Patent ID: 8685441

Claim:
A method comprising (a) formulating a lipid suspension with a perfluorocarbon gas to form an ultrasound contrast agent, and (b) using the ultrasound contrast agent in an imaging application in a subject, wherein the lipid suspension is made by (i) contacting phospholipids 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidic acid, mono sodium salt (DPPA), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), and N-(methoxypolyethylene glycol 5000 carbamoyl)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine, mono sodium salt (MPEG5000-DPPE) with a first non-aqueous solvent to form a lipid solution, wherein contacting comprises (1) sequential addition of the individual phospholipids to the first non-aqueous solvent or (2) combining the individual phospholipids with each other prior to their addition to the first non-aqueous solvent; (ii) contacting the lipid solution of (i) with a second non-aqueous solvent which causes the phospholipids to precipitate out as a solid lipid blend; (iii) collecting the solid lipid blend; (iv) contacting the solid lipid blend with a third non-aqueous solvent which causes the lipid blend to dissolve to form a lipid blend solution; and (v) contacting the lipid blend solution with an aqueous solution to yield the lipid suspension.