<br/>Acoustic droplet vaporization was introduced to embolize tumors with large microbubbles (MBs) non-invasively by converting ~ 2 µm perfluorocarbon (PFC) droplets within the feeding artery, and more recently cavitating ~ 300 nm nanodroplets (NDs) to improve their detection by ultrasound (US). However, despite the introduction of this technology 20 years ago, it has not been translated to the clinic mostly because of efficacy and side-effects, some of which remains unexplained. This talk will describe a new theory and validate a new theranostic platform that can achieve all the benefits of acoustic ND vaporization, but without the need for US activation.<br/>We demonstrated for the first time that the observed acoustic droplet vaporization side effects are due to the thermodynamically driven evaporation of liquid PFC from droplets to nearby bubbles and the fusion of their shell components resulting in microbubble volume expansion up to 6 orders of magnitude. US imaging confirmed that when liquid PFC NDs come in close proximity to PFC gas-filled nanobubbles, the latter inflate to become visible on US without the need for US activation. Microscopy showed MB expansion under stationary and flow conditions, and showed that inflated MBs can occlude a 200 µm tube. Flow cytometry showed that not only did PFC transfer from NDs to MBs, but also the shell lipids and lipophilic payloads transferred. When NDs were targeted to MBs, the same rate and degree of inflation occurred at 1/10th the ND dose.<br/>We believe that this translatable approach will be able to occlude tumor vessels from inside out, and do so without the need to visualize tumors since no US activation is needed. Equally exciting, controlled microbubble inflation to a specific desired size will enable diagnostic applications without the potential of occluding vital vessels.<br/>

Potential side effects and opportunities of co-existence of microbubbles and perfluorocarbon nanodroplets in the circulation

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.