The ultrasound-enhancing agents market was valued at US$ 756.61 million in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 2,511.52 million by 2031; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 16.2% during 2023-2031.

Key factors driving the market growth are the rising adoption of ultrasound-enhancing agents in diagnostic imaging and the increasing regulatory support and product approvals drive the market growth. However, the dearth of skilled technicians and high cost of diagnostic procedures hinder the ultrasound-enhancing agents market growth.

Market Trends of the Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market:

Rising focus on the development of improved formulations with enhanced stability, longer circulation times, and targeted binding properties is likely to add novel products to the market. Recent advancements in contrast agents have revolutionized the field of cellular and molecular imaging, enhancing the accuracy of early-stage disease detection. The use of nanoparticles with suitable structures and superior binding capabilities facilitates targeted imaging and disease detection. Such ultrasound-enhancing agents can be built by designing acoustically sensitive agents for disease-specific imaging, developing signal processing techniques to obtain high-resolution vascular images, and creating interpretation techniques to extract biologically and physiologically relevant data from microbubble acoustic signatures. The emergence of new ultrafast imaging and image processing techniques, coupled with the growing interest in targeted ultrasound therapeutic applications, are likely to support the use of ultrasound in numerous unexplored applications. The signal of agents depends on their size, and currently, the market is dominated by large-sized agents. This limits their use in molecular imaging, including cancer detection. However, smaller agents (100-500 nm) are being developed using nanomedicine. These agents can utilize tumor permeability and expand the capabilities of ultrasound in targeted cancer detection and therapy.

Further, improvements in pediatric ultrasound imaging techniques, including ultrasound-enhancing agents, are anticipated to cater to the specific needs of pediatric patients. The introduction of child-friendly contrast-enhancing agents, dose-optimization strategies, and personalized imaging protocols may address the unique challenges associated with imaging in pediatrics, in turn ensuring the safety and efficacy of diagnostics.

Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market: Segmental Overview

The ultrasound-enhancing agents market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and end user.

By type, the market is bifurcated into first generation and second generation. The second-generation segment held a larger market share in 2023. It is projected to register a higher CAGR from 2023 to 2031. Second-generation ultrasound-enhancing agents are made with microbubbles of inert and slowly diffusing gases, such as sulfur hexafluoride, or perfluorobutane stabilized in a phospholipid membrane. SonoVue, Definity, Optison, and Sonazoid are a few of the second-generation ultrasound-enhancing agents available in the market. The rising adoption of these products for better visualization of tumors and abnormal tissue growth propels the ultrasound-enhancing agents market growth.

The market, by application, is segmented into abdominal imaging, cardiovascular imaging, urinary tract imaging, and others. The abdominal imaging segment held the largest ultrasound-enhancing agents market share in 2023. The cardiovascular imaging segment is projected to register the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2031.

The market, by end user, is segmented into hospitals, diagnostic and imaging centers, and others. The hospitals segment held the largest share of the market in 2023. Further, the diagnostic and imaging centers segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2031.

Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market: Geographical Overview

The scope of the ultrasound-enhancing agents market report entails North America (the US, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Spain, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and the Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (South Korea, China, India, Japan, Australia, and the Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa), and South & Central America (Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South & Central America). Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest CAGR in the market from 2023 to 2031. Market growth in this region is attributed to the preference for advanced research tools in ongoing clinical studies, as well as increasing healthcare expenditures in the region. In terms of revenue, North America accounted for the largest ultrasound-enhancing agents market share in 2023.