Drexel University

Thomas Jefferson University

Purva Vaidya

Margaret Alison Wheatley

John Robert Eisenbrey

Brian Edward Oeffinger

Rawan Shraim

One aspect of the invention provides a method for freeze-drying surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; partially submerging the vials in a chilled water bath, wherein the water bath has a sub-freezing temperature; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for annealing surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; passing the vials in and out of liquid nitrogen (LN) until the mixture is frozen; holding the vials at −20° C.; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials.

Method of freeze drying surfactant-stabilized microbubbles

The present invention provides methods for preparing acoustically-sensitive microbubbles. The method includes the steps of: i) preparing a first surfactant solution comprising a first micelle-forming surfactant at a concentration above the critical micelle concentration (CMC); ii) adding one or more pharmaceutical compounds in a solvent to the first surfactant solution, thereby loading the micelles with the one or more pharmaceutical compounds; iii) preparing a second surfactant solution comprising a second surfactant, wherein the second surfactant comprises one or more matrix forming surfactants; iv) adding heat to the second surfactant solution to melt the surfactant and allowing the mixture to cool under rapid stirring; v) combining the second surfactant solution with the loaded micelles; vi) purging the surfactant mixture with a purging gas; vii) agitating the purged mixture under a constant stream of the purging gas; and, viii) separating the formed microbubbles by size.

Surfactant microbubbles compositions and process for preparing thereof

One aspect of the invention provides a method for freeze-drying surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; partially submerging the vials in a chilled water bath, wherein the water bath has a sub-freezing temperature; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for annealing surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. The method includes: preparing vials comprising a mixture comprising microbubbles; passing the vials in and out of liquid nitrogen (LN) until the mixture is frozen; holding the vials at &#x2212;20&#xb0; C.; placing the vials on a cooled shelf of a lyophilizer; freeze-drying the vials in the lyophilizer; and capping the freeze-dried vials.

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Flushing, NY, United States of America

Purva Vaidya