A team of UHN researchers, led by OCI Senior Scientists and Techna faculty members Drs. Gang Zheng and Brian Wilson, have developed a unique microbubble that could serve as a powerful new tool in medical imaging and therapy. Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the research group describes the synthesis of a porphyrin shell, referred to as a ''porshe'' microbubble. This is a safe, non-toxic contrast agent—a chemical used to distinguish organs and fluids in medical imaging—made of a small, minute shell of porphyrin molecules, previously developed by Dr. Zheng.

The porshe microbubble has built-in properties that allow it to be simultaneously visualized through ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. US is a popular and safe imaging technique and PA imaging provides a greater resolution of imaging than any other optical method. By combining these different techniques, visualization of the porshe microbubble allows for a greater range of safer and effective imaging. For example, it could be used to better view organs, tumours or complications from a medical condition.

Commenting on the significance of this new particle, first author Elizabeth Huynh, a doctoral student at OCI, says, “This is the first, inherently dual US/PA agent made in a one-step synthesis. These porshe microbubbles have a broad range of potential use. In addition to medical imaging, they can also be used to deliver therapeutics to specific sites in the body or remodel the organization of blood vessels.”

Porphyrin shell microbubbles with intrinsic ultrasound and photoacoustic properties. Huynh E, Lovell JF, Helfield B, Jeon M, Kim C, Goertz DE, Wilson BC, Zheng G. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2012 July 24. [Pubmed abstract]

This work was supported by The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy of South Korea, the National Science & Engineering Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Joey and Toby Tanenbaum/Brazilian Ball Chair in Prostate Cancer Research.