The invention of the tiniest free-floating bubbles is expected to significantly improve medical imaging in the coming years.
Bio-engineers at Rice University have developed these gas-filled protein bubbles that are small enough to travel throughout the body, reaching areas previously inaccessible.
“This breakthrough opens new avenues for ultrasound-mediated disease treatment, impacting future medical practices and patient outcomes. The research has notable implications for treating cancers and infectious diseases, as lymph-node-resident cells are critical targets for immunotherapies,” said George Lu, assistant professor of bioengineering, and study author. The new microbubble is a type of gas vesicle , which is almost the size of a virus .
As per the press release, genetic engineering brought them to life, nanoparticle characterization methods offered a detailed picture of their properties, electron microscopy revealed their distribution within the body at a microscopic level, and ultrasound imaging helped assess their interaction with sound waves.
However, their large size hinders their ability to pass throughout the body, as they get stuck in the bloodstream and other biological barriers. This limitation has driven the development of smaller alternatives for broader applications.The researchers highlight that electron microscopy provided a unique look into the lymphatic system. Images revealed the nanostructures accumulating in large numbers within immune cells crucial for triggering the body’s natural defenses.
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