Objective To prepare CD147-targeted nanobubble contrast agent and to evaluate its physicochemical properties, liver cancer cell-targeting ability, and ultrasound imaging ability.

Methods PLGA-PEG, DSPE-PEG2000-COOH, and perfluoropropane saturated aqueous solution were mixed and combined with CD147 antibody by coupling reaction to prepare CD147-targeted nanobubbles. CD147-targeted and non-targeted nanobubbles were co-incubated with MHCC-97H cells, respectively, and the targeting ability of nanobubbles was evaluated. The particle size of CD147-targeted microbubbles was detected at 1 d and 3 d after the preparation, and the ultrasonic imaging was performed in vitro and in nude mice.

Results CD147-targeted nanobubbles were uniformly distributed in the solution, and immunofluorescence results showed that CD147-targeted nanobubbles bond to MHCC-97H cells significantly more than the non-targeted nanobubbles (P < 0.01). The average diameter of targeted bubbles was (188.1±4.8) nm and (193.1±11.3) nm at 1 d and 3 d after preparation, respectively. At the 1 d and 3 d, the targeted microbubbles had good ultrasound imaging ability both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion The prepared CD147-targeted nanobubbles have stable physical and chemical properties, can specifically bind to liver cancer cells, and have good ultrasound imaging ability in vitro and in vivo. They can be used as a nano-scale molecular probe for ultrasonic molecular imaging and targeted therapy of liver cancer.