A REVIEW ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MICROBUBBLES

The review on the significance of microbubbles is about the size, preparation, drug loading methods and uses of microbubbles in various fields like pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic and research applications. The size of the microbubbles ranges between one micrometer and one millimeter. They are used in medical diagnostics as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging. The gas-filled microbubbles oscillate and vibrate, when a sonic energy field is applied and may reflect ultrasound waves. This distinguishes the microbubbles from surrounding tissues. Microbubbles must be encapsulated with a solid shell which is made from either a lipid or a protein such as Optison microbubbles consisting of perfluoropropane gas, encapsulated by serum albumin shell. Microbubbles are used to carry a drug or gene to a specific area of interest and where the ultrasounds burst them, causing site-specific delivery of the bioactive materials. Furthermore, the ability of albumin-coated microbubbles to adhere to vascular regions with glycocalix damage or endothelial dysfunction is another possible mechanism to deliver drugs even in the absence of ultrasound. Its scope extends beyond conventional microbubbles to all other small particulate systems such as self assembling structures that involve preparative manipulation.