Observations of pressure-wave-excited contrast agent bubbles in the vicinity of cells

Levovist contrast agent bubble dynamics after spark-induced pressure wave exposure is investigated in the vicinity of normal rat kidney fibroblast cells. The bubble dynamics is calculated using the Keller-Miksis model and results are compared with the experimental radius time curves. High-speed microscopic images show rapid bubble expansion and collapse. Even at moderate peak negative pressure amplitudes of less than 2 MPa the contrast agent bubbles have been observed to expand to more than 30 times their original radius and to rupture cells upon collapse. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.