Microbubbles
Encyclopedia
Microbubbles are bubbles smaller than one millimetre in diameter, but larger than one micrometre
. They are used in medical diagnostics as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging.
The gas-filled, e.g. air or perfluorocarbon, microbubbles oscillate and vibrate when a sonic energy field is applied and may reflect ultrasound waves. This distinguishes the microbubbles from surrounding tissues. In practice, because gas bubbles in liquid lack stability and would therefore quickly dissolve, microbubbles must be encapsulated with a solid shell. The shell is made from either a lipid
or a protein
such as Optison microbubbles which consist of perfluoropropane
gas encapsulated by a serum albumin
shell.
Microbubbles may also be used for drug delivery and water/waste water treatment purposes. .
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
. They are used in medical diagnostics as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging.
The gas-filled, e.g. air or perfluorocarbon, microbubbles oscillate and vibrate when a sonic energy field is applied and may reflect ultrasound waves. This distinguishes the microbubbles from surrounding tissues. In practice, because gas bubbles in liquid lack stability and would therefore quickly dissolve, microbubbles must be encapsulated with a solid shell. The shell is made from either a lipid
Lipid
Lipids constitute a broad group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins , monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others...
or a protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
such as Optison microbubbles which consist of perfluoropropane
Octafluoropropane
Octafluoropropane is a fluorocarbon non-flammable greenhouse gas that can be produced either by electrochemical fluorination or by the Fowler process using cobalt fluoride.-Applications:...
gas encapsulated by a serum albumin
Serum albumin
Serum albumin, often referred to simply as albumin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ALB gene.Serum albumin is the most abundant plasma protein in mammals. Albumin is essential for maintaining the osmotic pressure needed for proper distribution of body fluids between intravascular...
shell.
Microbubbles may also be used for drug delivery and water/waste water treatment purposes. .