Nanobubbles: Tiny Agents Driving Huge Impacts in Contrast-Enhanced Vascular Ultrasound Imaging
Abstract: Nanobubbles (NBs) are promising ultrasound contrast agents capable of enhancing both vascular and extravascular imaging. Their spatially uniform scattering under repeated exposure enables consistent and durable enhancement. This study evaluates NB-enhanced ultrasound using compound amplitude modulation (cAM) and plane-wave imaging (PWI) on the Vevo F2 system (Fujifilm VisualSonics Inc.) in both phantoms and in vivo mice. Phospholipid-shelled NBs (~250 nm) were tested in phantoms (~10⁹ NBs/mL) and in mouse kidneys (~10¹¹ NBs/mL). While cAM was sufficient in phantoms, it was inadequate in vivo due to breathing motion and incomplete tissue suppression. To address this limitation, a new PWI-based methodology was developed for NB-enhanced imaging, integrating high-frame-rate acquisition and advanced signal processing to achieve robust vascular visualization without amplitude modulation or pulse inversion. This approach establishes a practical framework for NB-enhanced vascular ultrasound imaging and demonstrates strong potential for preclinical and clinical translation.
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- 350 Victoria Street
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Room: KHE321C
- Toronto, Ontario
- Canada M5B 2K3
- Starts 30 October 2025 04:00 AM UTC
- Ends 03 November 2025 05:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Yu (Yulian) Weng, Ph.D.
Dr. Yu Weng, also known as Yulian, received his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on ultrasonics and the use of advanced signal processing and imaging algorithms to extract meaningful information from ultrasonic data. Throughout his career, Dr. Weng has contributed to a wide range of industrial and academic projects, resulting in peer-reviewed publications and four U.S. patents. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Kolios Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, where his work centers on contrast-enhanced ultrasound, nanobubble imaging, power Doppler, and super-resolution imaging. Dr. Weng is aimed to contribute to the next generation of ultrasound imaging technologies and advance the future of biomedical ultrasound research and innovation.
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