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Meeting ID: 941 8848 5181
Passcode: 189989

Ultrasound imaging is a relatively inexpensive technology that offers safe, noninvasive point-of-care evaluation of soft tissue. Although ultrasound imaging typically confers mechanical properties, molecular information can be obtained with the addition of exogenous contrast agents. Perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (PFNDs) are emerging as a versatile class of activatable contrast agents for ultrasound imaging. The droplets, which consist of a liquid perfluorocarbon core and a stabilizing shell, produce no inherent ultrasound contrast. When exposed to an external trigger, however, they undergo a liquid-to-gas phase transition to produce gaseous microbubbles. Ultrasound imaging can visualize the resulting microbubbles with single-bubble sensitivity.

This talk presents our lab’s recent research involving PFNDs with a particular focus on cancer applications. First, the presentation will include how two different populations of PFNDs can be simultaneously visualized with custom ultrasound activation and imaging sequences to enable sensitive detection of cancer cells. Second, the presentation will highlight how the PFNDs can be modified to become a versatile vehicle for image-guided delivery of small molecule and molecular therapeutics for breast cancer. Finally, recent work on multimodal imaging of PFNDs will be shown.

About the Speaker(s)

Geoff Luke
Assistant Professor of Engineering, Dartmouth

Professor Luke completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Wyoming, and earned his PhD in electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He leads the Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory where his research focuses on combining light, sound, and nanotechnology to create new tools for biology and medicine. His research has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the NIH Brain Initiative, and the Department of Defense.

Contact

For more information, contact Ashley Parker at ashley.l.parker@dartmouth.edu.