Improving the Performance of Phase-Change Perfluorocarbon Droplets for Medical Ultrasonography: Current Progress, Challenges, and Prospects

Figure 3

Exposing preformed PFC microbubbles to decreased ambient temperature and increased ambient pressure results in condensation of the gaseous core. The decreased size results in an increased Laplace pressure, which serves to preserve the particle in the liquid state. Once exposed to increased temperature and energy delivered via ultrasound, vaporization of the droplet core results in a larger, highly echogenic gas microbubble. Reprinted from [77], Copyright 2012, with permission from Elsevier.