Towards the Development of the Dual Modal Contrast Agent for Computed Tomography and Ultrasound

Abstract: Nowadays hybrid imaging modalities are new trends in medical imaging. To improve the diagnostic outcome of hybrid imaging, multimodal contrast agents need to be developed. For example, hybrid contrast agents for computer tomography and ultrasound (CACTUS) are one of those desirable hybrid contrast agents for the modern medical imaging. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) micro-bubbles (MBs) are one of the latest generations of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs). PVA MBs are more stable and offer longer circulation and on-shelf storage time compare to other UCAs. However, the current use as contrast agent is limited only to ultrasound imaging. In this project, we fabricated and characterized hybrid contrast agents based on PVA MBs. Two methods for developing hybrid contrast agents were proposed. The first method is to combine MBs, currently used as an ultrasound contrast agent, with gold nanoparticles that are used as a preclinical contrast agent for computer tomography (CT). The second method is to determine at which concentration plain MBs suspension has both considerable negative contrast in CT and enhancement of the backscattered signal in ultrasound imaging. Both methods were evaluated and optimized. A scenario to achieve promising hybrid contrast agent was described in this report.