Editorial: Bioengineering and clinical perspectives in diagnostic and therapeutic applications of microbubbles

摘要

Microbubbles have driven the field of diagnostic ultrasound to the cusp of major change. In the last decade, drug companies, ultrasound scanner manufacturers, and academic centers have invested manpower and funding in developing efficacious ultrasound contrast agents and new contrast-specific imaging modalities. In addition, new generation of targeted microbubbles have not only enhanced diagnostic accuracy but also therapeutic effectiveness by providing a new "vehicle" of gene and drug delivery. This special issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design aims to present the engineering and clinical aspects of microbubbles, highlighting the advances and perspectives in their diagnostic and therapeutic applications.