An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles includes a microfluidic flow focusing device, which includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

Suspension of gas-filled microvesicles comprising a targeting ligand for binding to KDR or VEGF/KDR complex. The suspension is obtained by reconstituting a freeze-dried residue with a carbohydrate-containing solution in the presence of a physiologically acceptable gas and is stabilized by the presence of histidine.

The present invention is related to a system and method for controlled manufacturing of mono-disperse microbubbles. According to the invention, the mono-disperse nature of the collection of generated microbubbles can be improved by releasing the pressurized gaseous medium used in the system using release valve units. This further allows the system to be embodied as a portable system. In turn, the operator of an ultrasound imaging apparatus may use the system according to the invention to generate microbubbles on a patient-by-patient basis.

Provided herein are improved methods for preparing phospholipid formulations including phospholipid UCA formulations.

Disclosed herein are methods relating to manufacturing an embolizing agent precursor. Manufacture of the embolizing agent precursor may involve mixing a first component contained within a first container with a second component contained within a second container, the first component including a plurality of negatively charged gaseous components and a first stabilizer, the second component comprising a plurality of positively charged oil components, a second stabilizer, and a cationic surfactant. Further steps may include mixing the first component with the second component such that the first and second component are held together as a single agglomerated entity.

The disclosure relates to a gas-filled microbubble, comprising: a shell encapsulating a gas volume; wherein the shell comprises a gas impermeable molecular layer; wherein the shell is functionalized with a plurality of polymerizable molecules, wherein the polymerizable molecules comprise pentacosadienoic acid, PCDA, derivatives, in particular polyethylene glycol PCDA, PCDA-PEG; wherein the polymerizable molecules are configured to undergo polymerization when being irradiated with UV radiation in a determined wavelength range; and wherein the polymerization of the polymerizable molecules changes physicochemical properties, such as viscoelastic properties, of the microbubble.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for an embolizing agent precursor. The embolizing agent precursor may include a gaseous component and a first stabilizer to stabilize the gaseous component, the first stabilizer may include a a polymer, and wherein a gas portion of the gaseous component is selected from the group consisting of sulphur hexafluoride and C3-6 perfluorocarbons. The embolizing agent precursor may further include an oil component which comprises a C1-7 hydrocarbon, a second stabilizer to stabilize the oil component, and a vaporous component configured to enlarge the gaseous component.

Disclosed herein include methods, compositions, and kits enabling expression of multiple proteins from a single mRNA with a predetermined stoichiometry. There are provided, in some embodiments, nucleic acid compositions comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide comprising a first nucleic acid unit encoding first unit payload protein(s) and a second nucleic acid unit encoding second unit payload protein(s). The first nucleic acid unit and the second nucleic acid unit can each comprise a 3′ engineered translation initiation site (eTIS) comprising a three-nucleotide tunable element immediately upstream of a start codon. The eTIS of each of the first nucleic acid unit and the second nucleic acid unit can be configured to achieve a predetermined stoichiometry of the first unit payload protein(s) and the second unit payload protein(s) in a cell or cell-like environment.

The present invention relates to ultrasound mediated delivery of antimicrobial agents to sites of infection, and particularly for treatment of infections. Thus, the invention provides a cluster composition and a pharmaceutical composition, for use in delivery and preparation for administration of antimicrobial agents and treatment of infections.

Disclosed herein include methods, compositions, and kits suitable for use in dynamic non-destructive imaging. The non-destructive imaging can be nonlinear ultrasound imaging. There are provided, in some embodiments, nucleic acid compositions encoding gas vesicles (GVs) capable of producing nonlinear ultrasound contrast upon expression in a prokaryotic cell (e.g., a probiotic bacterial cell) or a eukaryotic cell (e.g., a therapeutic mammalian cell).