Abstract:
Gas-containing microcapsules useful as imaging agents, e.g. as ultrasound contrast agents, may be prepared by forming a dispersion of gas microbubbles in an aqueous medium comprising a solution or dispersion of a wall-forming material and subsequently inducing direct microencapsulation of these microbubbles by the wall-forming material.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of in vivo optical imaging, of the blood vessels and/or blood pool of a mammalian subject, which comprises an optical imaging contrast agent. The optical imaging agents comprise conjugates of far-red or near-infrared dyes with synthetic polyethyleneglycol (PEG) polymers having a molecular weight in the range 15-45 kDa. Also disclosed are methods of treatment monitoring, methods of diagnosis and medical uses involving the contrast agents.