Preparation Of Thrombus-Targeted Ultrasound Contrast Agent And Contrast Specific Targeted Imaging On Acute Thrombus

Background:Thrombosis is a common clinical event, which frequently happens in deep veins, resulting in a series of complications . Doppler ultrasound is the primary imaging modality for detecting deep veins thrombosis (DVT). Although Doppler ultrasound has been reported to be precise in detecting DVT of groin and popliteal fossa , however, ultrasound has limited accuracy for detecting thrombosis within the deep veins of the pelvis, the inferior vena cava and the calf. Ultrasound is also generally unable to differentiate between acute and chronic thrombus. The alternative tests to Doppler ultrasound include invasive contrast venography and expensive magnetic resonance imaging. If a thrombus-specific ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) could be developed, it might improve the sensitivity and accuracy of ultrasound for detecting thrombus. Depending on specific ligand conjugation, a thrombus-specific UCA could potentially improve the contrast imaging of thrombosis. UCA is currently commercial available for left ventricular opacification and abdominal imaging in US and Europe. Some pioneer work has been done on preparation and in vitro tests of thrombus-specific targeted UCA, but little has not been found in vivo test. Objective:The purpose of this study was designed to prepare a thrombus-targeted albumin UCA and to investigate its targeting ability to fresh blood clot in vitro and then to evaluate the specific contrast enhancement of the targeted contrast agent on acute thrombus made in abdominal aorta of rabbit in vivo.METHODS:1. To prepare thrombus-targeted albumin microbubbles. Fluorescence labeling thrombus-specific peptides, directed to the activated glucoprotein (GP) IIB/IIIA receptor of platelets was attached to the surface of albumin-coated perfluorocarbon microbubbles. Immunofluorescence was applied to confirm the conjugation. The conjunct ratio and...