| 초록 |
Ultrasonography with high frequency sound wave has been widely used as a diagnostic tool because of its safety, and cost-effectiveness. However, it is difficult to distinguish cancer and normal tissue due to the resolution limit of ultrasonography. Thus, contrast agents have been exploited to enhance the resolution of ultrasound image. We hypothesized that polymeric micelles generating carbon dioxide gas could be useful as an ultrasound contrast agent. Alkyl chloroformate–modified poly(ethylene glycol) was synthesized, and carbonate linkage formation was confirmed by FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Gas-generating polymeric micelles were prepared by a solvent evaporation method. Physicochemical characteristics of micelles were investigated, and generation of CO2 from the micelles was confirmed by optical microscopy and ultrasonography. This approach to developing ultrasound contrast agents using polymer micelles may provide a useful means to cancer diagnosis and therapy. |
