Acoustic interrogation and optical visualization of ultrasound contrast agents within microcapsules.

The effectiveness of localized drug delivery as a treatment for breast cancer requires sufficiently high therapeutic dose, as well as an ability to image the drug for proper spatial targeting. To balance treatment potential and imaging capabilities, we have begun to design a novel drug reservoir using microcapsules that are large in size (> 30 µm) but functionalized with microbubbles or ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs). We term these carriers as 'Acoustically Sensitive Microcapsules' (ASMs).