Title :
In vitro and in vivo testing of PLGA contrast agents
Author :
El-Sherif, Dalia ; Wheatley, Margaret A.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Biomed. Eng., Sci. & Health Syst., Drexel Univ., Philadelphia, PA, USA
Abstract :
We have optimized a method for producing hollow poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microcapsules with a mean size of 1 μm by a modified double emulsion, solvent evaporation technique. Besides being biocompatible and biodegradable, these microspheres exhibit acoustic enhancements that makes them useful as contrast agents for diagnostic ultrasound imaging. In vivo studies (rabbit) demonstrate significant enhancement of power Doppler images. Moreover, the capsules´ solid shells makes them ideal candidates for the use as drug delivery vehicles for targeted/triggered therapeutic imaging
Keywords :
biomedical materials; biomedical ultrasonics; drug delivery systems; gels; polymer blends; scanning electron microscopy; 1 micron; PLGA US contrast agents; acoustic enhancements; biocompatible biodegradable microspheres; diagnostic ultrasound imaging; dose response; drug delivery; freeze-dried capsules; hollow microcapsules; in vitro testing; in vivo testing; modified double emulsion solvent evaporation; poly(lactide-co-glycolide); power Doppler images; scanning electron microscopy; targeted/triggered therapeutic imaging; Acoustic imaging; Acoustic testing; Biodegradable materials; In vitro; In vivo; Optimization methods; Rabbits; Solids; Solvents; Ultrasonic imaging;
Conference_Titel :
Bioengineering Conference, 2002. Proceedings of the IEEE 28th Annual Northeast
Conference_Location :
Philadelphia, PA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7419-3
DOI :
10.1109/NEBC.2002.999549
