Mapping Microbubble and Ultrasound Spatio-temporal Interaction by M-mode Imaging: The Study of Feasibility

Abstract

Ultrasound (US) and microbubble (MB) interaction is an important factor in the research of bioacoustics, as well as targeted drug and gene delivery. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of pulse−echo M-mode imaging system to be used for the visualization and quantification of US–MB interaction in both spatial and temporal dimensions. The system incorporates an exposure chamber with the cell–MB suspension, a 2.7 MHz focused US transducer, a US pulser–receiver and the customized LabView software. The results of cell and MB interaction obtained after M-mode image analysis have showed the US–MB interaction to be non-uniform in space and non-stationary in time. In order to quantify the spatio-temporal US–MB interaction, we have introduced the time function of spatial homogeneity dynamics. We have observed that the effective duration of interaction can be characterized at the predefined threshold of spatial homogeneity. For example, at the US excitation of 360 kPa peak negative pressure (15 bursts transmitted at 80 Hz pulse repetition frequency), the US–MB interaction persists for more than 5 seconds in the range at 4 mm depth of the exposure chamber with more than 50% of homogeneity. The system proposed in this assay is feasible for the characterization of US–MB interaction and can be exploited to optimize the MB concentration and/or the US excitation parameters.