Microfluidic generation of microbubbles for ultrasound contrast agent and therapeutics applications

我们建议开发一个微流体平台，以产生用于超声成像和治疗应用的微泡。微泡在临床上被批准用于超声造影剂应用，并且还被开发为基于超声的治疗递送载体。然而，目前用于产生微泡的微泡挤出方法不能产生高度单分散的微泡。利用微流体技术，可以制造高度单分散和均匀的微泡，其尺寸可以精确调节。 MD Precision Inc.是一家加拿大公司，在超声相关医疗技术方面拥有工程和产品开发专业知识。他们以前制造过超声换能器，高频成像系统，光声成像系统以及低频超声系统。他们现在正在寻求开发一种产生单分散微泡的技术，可用作超声造影剂或超声触发的递送载体。 在这个NSERC Engage项目中，我们将与MD Precision Inc.开发一种微流体方法来制造单分散和高度可控的微泡。我们将应用我们的流体力学和微流体专业知识来开发该系统，MD Precision将在未来六个月内与我们密切合作，以确保该设备未来的大规模制造能力。该项目完成后，我们的开发成果将为MD Precision带来一条新的产品线，该产品线使用微流体技术为超声应用产生微泡。

We are proposing to develop a microfluidics-platform to generate microbubbles for ultrasound imaging and therapeutics applications. Microbubbles are clinically approved for ultrasound contrast agent applications, and are also being developed as ultrasound-based therapeutic delivery vehicles. However, current microbubble extrusion methods used to generate microbubbles do not result in highly monodisperse microbubbles. With microfluidics, it is possible to manufacture highly monodisperse and uniform microbubbles whose size can be accurately tuned. MD Precision Inc. is a Canadian company with engineering and product development expertise in ultrasound-related medical technology. They have previously manufactured ultrasound transducers, high-frequency imaging systems, photoacoustics imaging systems, as well as low-frequency ultrasoundsystems. They now seek to develop a technique that generates monodisperse microbubbles that can be used as ultrasound contrast agents or ultrasound-triggered delivery vehicles. In this NSERC Engage project, we will work with MD Precision Inc. to develop a microfluidics approach to manufacture monodisperse and highly controlled microbubbles. We will apply our fluid mechanics and microfluidics expertise to develop the system, and MD Precision will work closely with us, over the next six months, to ensure the future mass manufacturability of the device. Upon completion of this project, the results of our development will lead to a new product line for MD Precision, that uses microfluidics to generate microbubbles for ultrasound applications.