Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating systemic inflammation. In certain embodiments, the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of curcumin-selenium loaded nanoparticles. The curcumin-selenium loaded nanoparticles can comprise a matrix of chitosan, polyethylene glycol and tetramethoxysilane encapsulating curcumin and selenium. In certain embodiments, the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles. The nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles can comprise a matrix of chitosan encapsulating nitric oxide. In certain embodiments, the systemic inflammation can be caused by endotoxemia. In certain embodiments, the systemic inflammation can be caused by a Filovirus, including an Ebola virus or a Marburg virus. In certain embodiments, the methods for treating systemic inflammation in a subject result in the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines in a subject.

Abstract: Nanoparticles are provided that comprise S-nitrosothiol (SNO) groups covalently bonded to the nanoparticles and/or S-nitrosothiol containing molecules encapsulated within the nanoparticles, as well as methods of making and using the nanoparticles. The invention also provides methods of preparing nanoparticles comprising Snitrosothiol (SNO) groups covalently bonded to the nanoparticles, where the methods comprise a) providing a buffer solution comprising chitosan, polyethylene glycol, nitrite, glucose, and hydrolyzed 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS); b) adding hydrolyzed tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) to the buffer solution to produce a sol-gel; and c) lyophilizing and ball milling the sol-gel to produce nanoparticles of a desired size.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of preparing a hybrid hydrogel paramagnetic nanoparticle. In certain embodiments, the hybrid hydrogel paramagnetic nanoparticle comprises a therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticle contains alcohol. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticles incorporate fatty acids. Also described herein, is a method of preparing a hybrid hydrogel NO-releasing nanoparticle. In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of preparing a S-nitrosocaptopril hydrogel nano-particle. Also described herein is a method of preparing a curcumin-based hydrogel nanoparticle. Further, described herein is a method for treating a bacterial infection in a burn wound using curcumin-based hydrogel nanoparticles. Also provided herein is a method of treating a fungal infection using photoactivated curcumin-based hydrogel nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the fungal infection is caused by dermatophytic fungi.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of inducing vascular inflammation using modified paramagnetic nanoparticles with improved therapeutic loading efficiency and enhanced circulation properties. The method comprises loading lipophilic agent into the fatty acid coatings of a paramagnetic nanoparticle (PMNP). In certain embodiment, the lipophilic agent is lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Described herein is a method of inducing vascular leakiness. In certain embodiment, the method induces a significant enhancement of vascular leakiness in a human body. In certain embodiments, the vascular leakiness allows for enhanced local delivery of nanoparticle and non-nanoparticle based therapeutics, imaging agents and theranostics. Also described herein is a method of using the PMNP for the treatment of diseases. In certain embodiments, the method of treatment is a combination therapy. Described herein are imaging of therapeutic delivery of PMNP and diagnostic methods using the PMNP.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to systems and methods of calibrating a plurality of frames generated with respect to a blood vessel as a result of a pullback of an intravascular imaging probe being pullback through the vessel. A calibration feature disposed in the frames that changes between a subset of the frames can be used to perform calibration. Calibration can be performed post-pullback. Various filters and image processing techniques can be used to identify one or more feature in the frames including, without limitation, a calibration feature, a guidewire, a side branch, a stent strut, a lumen of the blood vessel, and other features. The feature can be displayed using a graphic user interface.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to systems and methods of calibrating a plurality of frames generated with respect to a blood vessel as a result of a pullback of an intravascular imaging probe being pullback through the vessel. A calibration feature disposed in the frames that changes between a subset of the frames can be used to perform calibration. Calibration can be performed post-pullback. Various filters and image processing techniques can be used to identify one or more feature in the frames including, without limitation, a calibration feature, a guidewire, a side branch, a stent strut, a lumen of the blood vessel, and other features. The feature can be displayed using a graphic user interface.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of preparing a hybrid hydrogel paramagnetic nanoparticle. In certain embodiments, the hybrid hydrogel paramagnetic nanoparticle comprises a therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticle contains alcohol. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticles incorporate fatty acids. Also described herein, is a method of preparing a hybrid hydrogel NO-releasing nanoparticle. In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of preparing a S-nitrosocaptopril hydrogel nanoparticle. Also described herein is a method of preparing a curcumin-based hydrogel nanoparticle. Further, described herein is a method for treating a bacterial infection in a burn wound using curcumin-based hydrogel nanoparticles. Also provided herein is a method of treating a fungal infection using photoactivated curcumin-based hydrogel nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the fungal infection is caused by dermatophytic fungi.

Abstract: Described herein are hydrogel-based nanoparticles which release nitric oxide (NO) or other bioactive forms of NO including nitrosothiols, nitrofatty acids and dinitrogen trioxide into stored red blood cells (RBCs). Also provided herein is a method for using hydrogel-based nanoparticles to supplement stored RBCs with NO to enhance red blood cell (RBC) storage time, improve survivability in circulation, minimize toxicity associated with transfusion, and improve transfusion safety by eliminating infective organisms in stored blood.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates, in part, to computer-based visualization of stent position within a blood vessel. A stent can be visualized using intravascular data and subsequently displayed as stent struts or portions of a stent as a part of a one or more graphic user interface(s) (GUI). In one embodiment, the method includes steps to distinguish stented region(s) from background noise using an amalgamation of angular stent strut information for a given neighborhood of frames. The GUI can include views of a blood vessel generated using distance measurements and demarcating the actual stented region(s), which provides visualization of the stented region. The disclosure also relates to display of intravascular diagnostic information such as indicators. An indicator can be generated and displayed with images generated using an intravascular data collection system. The indicators can include one or more viewable graphical elements suitable for indicating diagnostic information such as stent information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.

Abstract: Nanoparticles are provided that comprise S-nitrosothiol (SNO) groups covalently bonded to the nanoparticles and/or S-nitrosothiol containing molecules encapsulated within the nanoparticles, as well as methods of making and using the nanoparticles. The invention also provides methods of preparing nanoparticles comprising Snitrosothiol (SNO) groups covalently bonded to the nanoparticles, where the methods comprise a) providing a buffer solution comprising chitosan, polyethylene glycol, nitrite, glucose, and hydrolyzed 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS); b) adding hydrolyzed tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) to the buffer solution to produce a sol-gel; and c) lyophilizing and ball milling the sol-gel to produce nanoparticles of a desired size.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a micro-lens; a beam director in optical communication with the micro-lens; and a substantially transparent film. The substantially transparent film is capable of bi-directionally transmitting light, and generating a controlled amount of backscatter. In addition, the film surrounds a portion of the beam director.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimate blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determine and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to systems and methods of calibrating a plurality of frames generated with respect to a blood vessel as a result of a pullback of an intravascular imaging probe being pullback through the vessel. A calibration feature disposed in the frames that changes between a subset of the frames can be used to perform calibration. Calibration can be performed post-pullback. Various filters and image processing techniques can be used to identify one or more feature in the frames including, without limitation, a calibration feature, a guidewire, a side branch, a stent strut, a lumen of the blood vessel, and other features. The feature can be displayed using a graphic user interface.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a micro-lens; a beam director in optical communication with the micro-lens; and a substantially transparent film. The substantially transparent film is capable of bi-directionally transmitting light, and generating a controlled amount of backscatter. In addition, the film surrounds a portion of the beam director.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a micro-lens; a beam director in optical communication with the micro-lens; and a substantially transparent film. The substantially transparent film is capable of bi-directionally transmitting light, and generating a controlled amount of backscatter. In addition, the film surrounds a portion of the beam director.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for releasing nitric oxide (NO) comprising a matrix that encapsulates nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is released when the composition is exposed to an aqueous environment. The invention further provides methods of preparing the compositions and uses of the compositions for treating infections and disorders.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for controlled delivery and/or containment of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents comprising the agent or agents encapsulated by a matrix containing chitosan, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and tetra-methoxy-ortho-silicate (TMOS) or tetra-ethoxy-ortho-silicate (TEOS), as well as methods for preparing the compositions, and uses of the compositions for therapy and imaging.