与其他成像方法相比,超声成像具有成像效果好、实时成像、操作简便、无放射性污染、价格相对低廉、适用面广以及适用于床旁等诸多无法比拟的优点,因此是目前临床上应用最为广泛的成像诊断手段之一。临床上使用超声造影剂可以提高疾病诊断的准确性,但是,超声成像自身的缺点如灵敏度相对较低等使其在对癌症等重大疾病进行诊断时存在一定的局限性。将超声成像与其他成像模式联合使用则可实现优势互补,为临床诊断提供更快捷、更精确和更清晰的图像,为疾病的诊治提供更多的信息。同时,由于超声成像实时便捷的特性,使得超声成像特别适合与多种治疗方式结合在一起,开发超声成像实时监控治疗的复合试剂,即基于超声成像的诊断治疗一体化试剂。本文介绍了以超声成像为核心的多功能造影剂,包括靶向超声造影剂、多模态造影剂以及基于超声成像的诊断治疗一体化试剂,综述了近年来有关这一研究热点的报道,并提出了存在的问题以及今后可能的研究方向。
Among all the diagnostic imaging techniques, ultrasound imaging is one of the most widely used imaging techniques around the world due to its unique advantages, such as real-time imaging, low cost, high safety and readily availability for portable devices. Although application of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) can significantly improve the accuracy and confidence of disease diagnosis by providing higher quality ultrasound images, ultrasound imaging also have some intrinsic limitations, such as its relatively limited sensitivity. Any medical imaging technique alone can not be so perfect and effective to get all the necessary diagnostic information. Therefore, in recent years, the idea of using muhimodal imaging method based on ultrasound imaging has gained popularity among researchers and they have come to realize that the complementary abilities of different imaging modalities could be harnessed to synergistic advantages over any modality alone by using them in tandem. Especially, multifunctional ultrasound contrast agents are able to operate as novel theranostic agents for both contrast-enhanced ultrasonic imaging and therapy, which holds a great potential for ultrasound-guided therapy in clinic cancer treatment. The present review outlines recent progress in the development of muhifunctional ultrasound contrast agents including targeted ultrasound contrast agents, muhimodal contrast agents and theranostic agents based on ultrasound imaging, along with their possible future applications