Acoustic microbubble trapping in blood mimicking fluid

Microbubble (MB) volumetric pulsations can be selectively seeded with external ultrasonic fields. The therapeutic use of this phenomenon encompass mechanical thrombolysis and targeted drug deliveries through sonoporating endothelial cells. However, expected outcomes are still plagued by low bubble concentrations and short circulation time after administration. MBs preferentially flow along the centerline of large vessels which deteriorates biological targeting methodology in the case of vascular disease treatment with MBs. Simultaneous MB imaging and trapping against high flow rates has been recently proposed by instantaneously switching optimized ultrasonic beams. Principles were previously validated by circulating MBs with purified water through a flow phantom. But differences between blood and water call for preliminary investigations with blood mimicking fluid (BMF). This study demonstrated the capability of trapping bubbles in BMF with the acoustic trap but with nearly 40% efficiency reduction over the control in water, being present by the suppressed increase of image brightness.