Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for diagnosing, imaging, and quantifying non-calcified atherosclerotic plaque. Embodiments of compositions described herein comprise mannosylated dextran compounds along with other carbohydrate molecules comprising, for example, a diagnostic agent and a diagnostic moiety. The compounds and methods embodied herein produce superior localization and results for imaging, anatomically locating, and quantifying non-calcified atherosclerotic plaque.

Abstract: The present application relates to compositions and methods for imaging and/or detecting tumors. In certain embodiments, the imaging and/or detection is targeted to tumor associated macrophages. In some embodiments, a mannosylated dextran construct is used to target and/or detect tumor associated macrophages. In some embodiments, the tumor may be one or more visceral tumors. In some embodiments, the detected and/or targeted tumor may be one or more metastatic tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnostics, detection or research analysis of cancer. In particular, the present invention is in the field of analysis of the levels of gene expression in normal or noncancerous cells because of their prosximity to cancer cells. The present invention further provides for analysis of the altered gene expression levels in normal or non-cancerous cancerous cells as an indicator of disease prognosis, staging and grading. The current invention is a means to increase the sensitivity of needle core biopsies to detect the presence of cancer.