# Novel Targeted Iodinated Microbubbles for Molecular Imaging With Computed Tomography

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $227,566

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Precision medicine individualizes disease treatment and prevention strategies for each person. Molecular
imaging (MI) plays a key role in precision medicine because it visualizes the biological processes underlying the
development of disease that are unique to each individual. MI requires an imaging probe that targets processes
like angiogenesis and inflammation and reports the location of the activity inside the body. Current preclinical
(ultrasound) and clinical (positron emission tomography) MI applications have the drawbacks of limited body
coverage and poor spatial resolution, respectively. Computed tomography (CT) produces high-resolution 3-
dimensional whole body images but has fallen behind other MI modalities because it lacks a clinically viable
targeted imaging probe. The long-term goal of this research is to adapt and enhance an existing, readily available
imaging modality, CT, for clinical molecular imaging by introducing an imaging probe that targets disease and is
detectable by x-ray. The specific aims of this project are 2-fold. The first aim is to develop a novel CT molecular
imaging agent by combining the established platform of targeted microbubble contrast agents used in ultrasound
with radiopaque polyesters synthesized with a unique, aliphatic, iodinated monomer detectable by CT to produce
targeted iodinated microbubble (TIMb). The radio-contrast properties of TIMbs will be evaluated versus iodine
loading, temperature and concentration. The second aim is to test TIMb and CT parameters in an in vivo model
of angiogenesis and compare sensitivity to ultrasound MI. The outcome of this project will be TIMb, a targeted
contrast agent for CT, which can be used as a tool for early detection, fundamentally improving the treatment
and prevention of disease. This is the first step toward establishing CT as a clinically viable option for molecular
imaging to facilitate high-resolution whole body molecular imaging needed in the push toward precision medicine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9981422
- **Project number:** 5R21EB025306-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Kennita A Johnson
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $227,566
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9981422

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9981422, Novel Targeted Iodinated Microbubbles for Molecular Imaging With Computed Tomography (5R21EB025306-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9981422. Licensed CC0.

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