초록 ▼

Liposomes suitable as ultrasound contrast agents which contain media of various types including gases, gaseous precursors activated by pH, temperature or pressure, as well as other solid or liquid contrast enhancing agents, are described. Methods of using the same as ultrasound contrast agents are a

Liposomes suitable as ultrasound contrast agents which contain media of various types including gases, gaseous precursors activated by pH, temperature or pressure, as well as other solid or liquid contrast enhancing agents, are described. Methods of using the same as ultrasound contrast agents are also disclosed. The present invention also comprises novel methods for synthesizing liposomes having encapsulated therein gases.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of synthesizing a liposome having encapsulated therein a gas comprising the steps of: (a) placing a liquid media containing liposomes in a vessel, (b) pressurizing said vessel with a cooled gas, thereby dissolving a first portion of said gas into said liquid media, so that a portion of said

A method of synthesizing a liposome having encapsulated therein a gas comprising the steps of: (a) placing a liquid media containing liposomes in a vessel, (b) pressurizing said vessel with a cooled gas, thereby dissolving a first portion of said gas into said liquid media, so that a portion of said dissolved gas enters said liposomes, and (c) rapidly depressurizing said vessel by releasing a second portion of said gas from said vessel, thereby causing said dissolved gas having entered said liposomes to form bubbles within said liposomes, and further comprising the step of sizing said liposomes.