Functionalized monodisperse microbubble production: microfluidic method for fast, controlled, and automated removal of excess coating material.

ABSTRACT: Functionalized monodisperse microbubbles have the potential to boost the sensitivity and efficacy of molecular ultrasound imaging and targeted drug delivery using bubbles and ultrasound. Monodisperse bubbles can be produced in a microfluidic flow focusing device. However, their functionalization and sequential use require removal of the excess lipids from the bubble suspension to minimize the use of expensive ligands and to avoid competitive binding and blocking of the receptor molecules. To date, excess lipid removal is performed by centrifugation, which is labor intensive and challenging to automate. More importantly, as we show, the increased hydrostatic pressure during centrifugation can reduce bubble monodispersity. Here, we introduce a novel automated microfluidic 'washing' method. F

SUBMITTER: van den Broek MRP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11364838 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature