Abstract
Localization-based ultrasound imaging methods that use microbubbles or nanodroplets offer high-resolution imaging with improved sensitivity and reduced background signal. However, these methods require long acquisition times (typically seconds to minutes), preventing their use for real-time imaging and, thus, limiting their clinical translational potential. Here, we present a new ultrafast localization method using blinking ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles (BNPs). When activated with high frame rate (1 kHz) plane wave ultrasound pulses with a mechanical index of 1.5, the BNPs incept growth of micrometer-sized bubbles, which in turn collapse and generate a blinking ultrasound signal. We showed that background-free ultrasound images could be obtained by localizing these blinking events using acquisition times as low as 11 ms. In addition, we demonstrated that BNPs enable in vivo background-free ultrasound imaging in mice. We envision that BNPs will facilitate the clinical translation of localization-based ultrasound imaging for more sensitive detection of cancer and other diseases.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 659-666 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Nano Letters |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 25 2023 |
Keywords
- cavitation
- high frame rate imaging
- localization-based ultrasound imaging
- mesoporous silica nanoparticles
- ultrasound contrast agents
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- General Chemistry
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanical Engineering