Abstract: The present invention provides a method of imaging blood vessels or blood flow in blood vessels in an animal comprising: (i) injecting a lipid solution into the bloodstream of the animal; (ii) imaging the blood vessels by an imaging method; and (iii) calculating the blood flow velocity in the blood vessels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel use of ultrafine nanoparticles, of use as a diagnostic, therapeutic or theranostic agent, characterized by their mode of administration via the airways. The invention is also directed toward the applications which follow from this novel mode of administration, in particular for imaging the lungs, and the diagnosis or prognosis of pathological pulmonary conditions. In the therapeutic field, the applications envisioned are those of radiosensitizing or radioactive agents for radiotherapy (and optionally curietherapy), or for neutron therapy, or of agents for PDT (photodynamic therapy), in particular for the treatment of lung tumors.

Abstract: A biocompatible curable composition and a method of detecting a border of a tumor, a tissue of interest, or both including injecting the biocompatible curable composition and contacting the border of a tumor or a tissue, the biocompatible curable composition crosslinks to form a three-dimensional cured nanocomposite, and imaging the three-dimensional (3D) cured nanocomposite, and imaging the 3D cured nanocomposite by at least one of MRI, CT, ultrasound, and X-ray, to detect the border of the tumor or the tissue of interest or track tumor motion during radiotherapy treatment. The biocompatible curable composition comprising an organic polymer having a hydrolysable functional group, a metallic nanoparticle, and a polar or a non-polar solvent. A brachytherapy strand consisting of a biocompatible curable composition and a radio-isotope seed. The biocompatible curable composition is shaped into an elongated cylinder and forms a 3D cured nanocomposite with a radio-isotope seed embedded.

Abstract: Disclosed are multi-compartmental nanoparticulate systems for imaging as well as the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of inflammation and/or disease. These multicompartmental nanoparticulate systems can be used to target specific cells or cellular structures. Furthermore, these systems are capable of simultaneous delivery of hydrophilic and lipophilic compositions. Finally, these systems also allow for temporal control of drug delivery.

Abstract: An acoustically activatable particle of material includes a first substance that includes a component that is a gas 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. A second substance, different from the first substance, encapsulates the first substance to create a droplet or emulsion that is stable at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. At least some of the first substance exists in a gaseous phase at the time of encapsulation of the first substance within the second substance to form a bubble. After formation of the bubble, the bubble is condensed into a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into the droplet or emulsion having a core consisting of a liquid. The droplet or emulsion is an activatable phase change agent having a core consisting of a liquid at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. The first substance has a boiling point below 25° C. at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laparoscopic surgery method comprising inspection of peritoneal surfaces under an isotonic solution comprising a contrast enhancing agent using near contact scanning by a laparoscope. Accordingly, the method according to the current invention comprises introducing the solution and the contrast enhancing agent into the retroperitoneal space through a catheter or a channel of a laparoscope using an irrigation pump. The present invention provides also an isotonic laparoscopy solution comprising a contrast enhancing agent enhancing the contrast of the laparoscopic view.

Abstract: Conjugates are provided containing a graphene quantum dot, a targeting moiety, and an active agent. The conjugates can be used to provide one or more therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic effects to a subject in need thereof. The subject can be a cancer patient and the active agent an anti-cancer agent. The graphene quantum dots can have an average particle size of about 1-20 nm and a monodisperse size distribution. The size distribution can have a span about 1 or less and/or a coefficient of variance of about 0.5 or less. Methods of making the conjugates are provided. The methods can include conjugating the targeting moiety to the GQD using a reactive coupling group. Methods of treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing a disease or disorder in a patient in need thereof by administering the conjugates are provided.

Abstract: A composition, and method thereof, for stabilizing a fluorocarbon emulsion includes phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine-PEG, and a cone-shaped lipid.

Abstract: The present invention provides dendrimer conjugates. The present invention provides a composition comprising a dendrimer conjugate and a cell, such as a cell covered with dendrimer conjugates, in which dendrimer conjugates home the cell to a target tissue.

Abstract: A method for early stage pathology detection, location, imaging, evaluation, and treatment of cells and/or extracellular vesicles in the circulation.

Abstract: A stabilized nanobubble can include a membrane that defines at least one internal void, which includes at least one gas. The membrane can include at least one lipid and at least one nonionic triblock copolymer that is effective to control the size of the nanobubble without compromising in vitro and in vivo echogenicity of the nanobubble.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to bacterial nitroreductase enzymes and methods of use thereof: more particularly, although not exclusively, the enzymes have use in non-invasive imaging techniques, monitoring of therapeutic cell populations and gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy. The invention also relates to the use of bacterial nitroreductase enzymes in radioimaging and/or ablation of biological agents and to compositions of use in such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to magnetic contrast structures for magnetic resonance imaging, and methods of their use. The contrast structures include magnetic materials arranged as a pair of disk-shaped magnetic components with a space between a circular surface of each disk shape, or a tubular magnetic structure, a substantially cylindrical magnetic structure, a substantially spherical shell-formed magnetic structure, or a substantially ellipsoidal shell-formed structure, each defining a hollow region therein. The space and/or hollow region in the contrast structure creates a spatially extended region contained within a near-field region of the contrast structure over which an applied magnetic field results in a homogeneous field, such that nuclear magnetic moments of a second material when arranged within the spatially extended region precess at a characteristic Larmor frequency, whereby the contrast structure is adapted to emit a characteristic magnetic resonance signal of the magnetic material.

Abstract: Iohexol particles, contrast agent compositions comprising iohexol particles, methods of preparing iohexol particles, and methods of administering iohexol particles are provided herein. The iohexol particles of the present invention substantially dissolve in water within about 60 seconds when tested using Modified United States Pharmacopeia Method 641.

Abstract: A process for preparing a composition comprising encapsulated gas microbubbles, the process comprising: providing an aqueous protein solution of a heat-denaturable protein at a temperature necessary to achieve incipient denaturation; heating a gas by using heat from the heated protein solution; mixing the heated gas and the heated protein solution to obtain a gas/liquid mixture; and dispersing the gas into the protein solution by subjecting the gas/liquid mixture to mechanical shear forces to form a composition of gas microbubbles encapsulated by denatured protein.

Abstract: A biocompatible curable composition and a method of detecting a border of a tumor, a tissue of interest, or both including injecting the biocompatible curable composition and contacting the border of a tumor or a tissue, the biocompatible curable composition crosslinks to form a three-dimensional cured nanocomposite, and imaging the three-dimensional (3D) cured nanocomposite, and imaging the 3D cured nanocomposite by at least one of MRI, CT, ultrasound, and X-ray, to detect the border of the tumor or the tissue of interest or track tumor motion during radiotherapy treatment. The biocompatible curable composition comprising an organic polymer having a hydrolysable functional group, a metallic nanoparticle, and a polar or a non-polar solvent. A brachytherapy strand consisting of a biocompatible curable composition and a radio-isotope seed. The biocompatible curable composition is shaped into an elongated cylinder and forms a 3D cured nanocomposite with a radio-isotope seed embedded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of non-invasive infrared imaging, comprising (a) administering a composition containing infrared-emitting particles which contain rare earth elements that emit in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectrum, where the particles are encapsulated with a biocompatible matrix to form downconverting encapsulated particles; and (b) irradiating with infrared radiation, where both excitation and emission spectra of the encapsulated particles are in the infrared region. Analogous methods of image-guided biomedical intervention, and drug tracking and delivery are also disclosed. Also disclosed is a composition for biomedical applications, containing infrared-emitting particles which contain rare earth-elements that emit in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectrum, where the particles are encapsulated with a biocompatible matrix to form downconverting encapsulated particles.

Abstract: Flavonoid compounds may be prepared that are selective for certain cell organelles, and may be used as biological imaging agents. Organelles that may be imaged with flavonoid compounds include mitochondria and lysosomes. Advantageously, the flavonoids show specificity to certain organelles and may exhibit a florescence “turn-on” mechanism, where the flavonoids that have target an organelle exhibit a florescence response when excited.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance structure with a cavity or a reserved space that provides contrast and the additional ability to frequency-shift the spectral signature of the NMR-susceptible nuclei such as water protons by a discrete and controllable characteristic frequency shift that is unique to each MRS design. The invention also relates to nearly uniform solid magnetic resonance T2* contrast agents that have a significantly higher magnetic moment compared to similarly-sized existing MRI contrast agents.

Abstract: Provided herein are improved methods for preparing phospholipid formulations including phospholipid UCA formulations.