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Buzulukov Yu.P., Borsukov A.V., Marchenkova N.S., Shestakova D.Yu.
Comparison of the domestic preparation prototype for ultrasound examinations with contrast enhancement with Sonovue (Switzerland)
Keywords: contrast-enhanced ultrasound, ultrasound contrast agent, microbubbles, Sonovue, tetrafluoroethane; phantom
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound using ultrasound contrast agents is an effective diagnostic method that improves visualization and detail of organs and tissues being examined, offering several advantages over alternative methods. The development of a domestically produced contrast-enhanced ultrasound product will not only increase the availability of such examinations but also significantly expand their scope of application. The aim of the study was to compare the geometric characteristics, visualization and kinetic properties of a prototype of a domestic ultrasound contrast agent with the drug Sonovu (Bracco Swiss SA) under conditions of phantom modeling of vascular structures. Materials and methods. Two ultrasound contrast agents were used in the study: a prototype ultrasound contrast agent – a suspension of microbubbles with a protein shell (albumin/glucose) filled with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; Sonovue – sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles with a phospholipid shell. Microbubble geometry was assessed by optical microscopy (MICMED-6) with calculation of the polydispersity coefficient (D10/D50/D90). Visualization was performed on a Sonoscape S50 Elite system (B-mode and contrast mode) using a training phantom of the portal vein and a capillary "tangle"; mechanical index 0.12–0.15, frequency 9.0–10.8 MHz. Results. The average microbubble diameter of Sonovue was ~2.5 µm (polydispersity ~1.1); that of the prototype was ~1.9 µm (polydispersity ~0.8). In the portal vein model, both preparations provided significant contrast enhancement; the difference was in the kinetics: the time to signal peak was ~40 s for Sonovue and ≤10 s for the prototype, with faster washout in the ROI. In the capillary tangle model, reduced banding artifacts were observed with the prototype, along with clearer visualization of capillary cross-sections. Conclusions. A prototype ultrasound contrast agent demonstrated comparable contrast enhancement with a different pharmacokinetic profile and reduced severity of some artifacts in a phantom environment. These differences are likely due to the filler gas and the composition of the microbubble shell. These data support the potential for further development and preclinical validation of the prototype.
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About authors
- Buzulukov Yuriy P.
- Candidate of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Russia, Moscow (buzulukov@inbox.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3833-0884)
- Borsukov Alexey V.
- Doctor of Medical Sciences, Director, Problem Research Laboratory "Diagnostic Research and Minimally Invasive Technologies", Smolensk State Medical University, Russia, Smolensk (bor55@yandex.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4047-7252)
- Marchenkova Natalya S.
- Research Assistant, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Russia, Moscow (marchenkova.nata@inbox.ru; )
- Shestakova Darya Yu.
- Candidate of Medical Sciences, Senior Researcher, Problem Research Laboratory «Diagnostic Studies and Minimally Invasive Technologies», Smolensk State Medical University, Russia, Smolensk (daria@venidiktova.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5497-1476)
Article link
Buzulukov Yu.P., Borsukov A.V., Marchenkova N.S., Shestakova D.Yu. Comparison of the domestic preparation prototype for ultrasound examinations with contrast enhancement with Sonovue (Switzerland) [Electronic resource] // Acta medica Eurasica. – 2026. – №1. P. 14-26. – URL: https://acta-medica-eurasica.ru/en/single/2026/1/2/. DOI: 10.47026/2413-4864-2026-1-14-26.