Abstract: This invention relates to bifunctional detection agents useful for providing high-resolution, in vivo imaging of biochemical activity in a living organism. Methods of using these bifunctional detection agents may comprise administering them into a living organism, and then estimating the localization of the detection agent using one modality (i.e., MRI), while concurrently estimating the level of biological activity using a second modality (i.e., optical imaging). One of the bifunctional detection agents comprises a magnetic resonance component and an optical imaging component. The magnetic resonance component comprises a contrast agent that is always activated or “on”. The optical imaging component comprises an activatable contrast agent or dye that is activated or turned “on” only in the presence of a particular event.

Abstract: A drug delivery system that includes a hydrogel formed from cyclodextrin and an amphiphilic copolymer that includes an A polymer block comprising a poly(alkylene oxide) and a B polymer block comprising a poly(hydroxyalkanoate), and a therapeutically effective amount of at least one therapeutic agent intimately contained within the hydrogel. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the A polymer block is poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and the B polymer block is poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB), and the copolymer is the triblock ABA copolymer PEO-PHB-PEO. A method of synthesizing the amphiphilic triblock copolymer is also provided.

Abstract: The inventive polyfunctional biocompatible hydrogel comprises 1.3–15 mass % of acrylamide, 0.004–0.975 mass % of cross-linking agents—N,N?-methylen-bis-acrylamide, 0.004–5.1 mass % of N,N?-ethylen-bis-acrylamide, 0.002–0.45 mass % of poviargol and water up to 100 mass %. Said hydrogel is produced by sopolymerising acrylamide with the cross-linking agents in an aqueous medium in the presence of peroxide polymerisation initiator, the incubation of reaction mixture being carried out in two stages. The first stage is carried out at a temperature ranging from 20 to 90° C. during a time of 2 to 24 hours, the second stage being carried out at a temperature ranging from 107 to 130° C. during a time equal to or less than 2 hours.