Optimization results in tissue mimicking phantoms. (A) Diluted
microbubble (MB) solution is injected into a rod inclusion in an agarose
cube that is placed at the focal region of a dual imaging-therapy
setup. (B) Inclusion signal as a function of MB concentration. (C)
Ultrasound (US) images of the MB-filled inclusion before and after
application of a therapeutic US treatment with center frequencies
of 250 kHz (either 180 or 290 kPa) and 80 kHz (either 50 or 120 kPa).
(D) Impact of treatment duration on the contrast reduction for peak
negative pressures (PNP) of 65, 110, and 180, representing stable
cavitation, and 290 kPa, representing inertial cavitation and a center
frequency of 250 kHz. (E) Contrast reduction as a function of PNP
for MB only and cells + targeted MBs (TMB), for the two center frequencies.
All experiments were performed in triplicate. All data are plotted
as mean ± SD.