mikrobubblat

Mikrobubblat is the Swedish term for microbubbles, referring to small gas-filled spheres suspended in liquids. They typically range from about 1 to 100 micrometers in diameter and can form naturally when dissolved gases come out of solution or when cavitation occurs. Microbubbles are also engineered for a variety of medical and industrial applications, where their small size and high surface area give them distinctive acoustic and mechanical properties.

A microbubble consists of a gas core surrounded by a stabilizing shell. The shell is often lipid, protein, or polymer-based, and its composition determines stability, biocompatibility, and how the bubble responds to ultrasound or mechanical stresses. The gas core may be air, nitrogen, or other biocompatible gases. The shells influence factors such as circulation time in fluids, resistance to dissolution, and the threshold for cavitation.

Microbubbles are produced through several methods, including gas infusion into liquids under pressure, ultrasonication, emulsification, or microfluidic generation. In medical contexts, stabilized microbubbles are designed to withstand circulation long enough to reach target tissues before responding to ultrasound.

Applications span medicine and industry. In medical imaging, microbubbles serve as contrast agents for ultrasound, enhancing echogenicity. Therapeutically, they enable targeted drug or gene delivery, improve permeability of cell membranes (sonoporation), and participate in cavitation-based therapies. Industrial uses include flotation and enhanced gas transfer in wastewater treatment, fermentation, and other processes where controlled gas-liquid interactions are beneficial.

Safety and limitations include potential vascular occlusion if injected, short in vivo lifetimes, and destruction by high-intensity ultrasound. Manufacturing quality and regulatory approval are important considerations for clinical use, with ongoing research aimed at improving stability, targeting, and safety.