A Nanoscale Ultrasound Contrast Agent for Precise Determination of Tissue Stiffness Developed

- Fibrosis of human tissues is occurring with increasing frequency due to aging in modern societies. Fibrosis causes stiffening of organs and is symptomatic of a range of aging associated diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, arteriosclerosis, and cancer, and can be life-threatening if not detected early. As there is no fundamental cure, early diagnosis is crucial. However, it is currently challenging to measure the degree of sclerosis in living tissues and determine the extent of its presence without a biopsy. The magneto-gas vesicle (MGV) (a nanostructure composed of magnetic nanoparticles bonded to a gas-filled protein) developed by Director Cheon’s team is a high-performance ultrasound contrast agent that scatters sound waves differently from biological tissues due to its unique physical properties. MGV produces highly oscillatory sound wave scattering even in weak magnetic fields, enabling ultrasound imaging that is four to eight times brighter and more precise than conventional imaging.