Modification of surfactant contrast agent for targeted ultrasound imaging

Fibronectin peptide fragments were conjugated to a surfactant stabilized ultrasound contrast agent to develop a targeted contrast agent that enhances ultrasound imaging. The agent was modified with PEG and conjugated with a generic GRGDS peptide sequences that targets integrins specific to angiogenesis. The microbubbles bound to human breast cancer cells in vitro within 3 minutes under flow conditions. The GRGDS peptide modified-microbubbles show promise as candidates for targeted therapeutic imaging and eventually drug delivery vehicles.