Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chitosan-based conjugates, e.g. nanocarriers, comprising a derivative of the biocompatible polymer chitosan conjugated to a photosensitising agent, and uses thereof in photochemical internalisation (PCI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). The invention also relates to the use of the novel conjugates of the invention in treatment or prevention of diseases, particularly cancer, and for vaccination purposes.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of amphiphilic photosensitizing agents which have a water solubility of at least 0.5 mg/ml and to their use in methods of photochemical internalization. Such salts may be formed from a pharmaceutically acceptable base, for example an organic amine such as an amino alcohol, or from a pharmaceutically acceptable acid, for example a sulphonic acid or a sulphonic acid derivative. Due to their increased water solubility, such salts are particularly suitable for use in the preparation of parenteral pharmaceutical preparations, e.g. for use as solutions for injection or infusion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of expressing an antigenic molecule or a part thereof on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell, said method comprising introducing a molecule into the cell cytosol by photochemical internalisation, wherein said molecule, or a part thereof, is subsequently presented on the surface of said cell. Methods of vaccination comprising this method, together with compositions comprising said cells and uses involving said cells expressing antigenic molecules are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of introducing drugs into cells which are located in body cavities. In particular, it provides a photosensitizing agent for use in a method of introducing a drug molecule into the cytosol of a cell located within a body cavity, said method comprising the step of contacting said cell with said photosensitizing agent and said drug molecule, and irradiating the cell with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosensitizing agent. Such methods are particularly suitable for use in the delivery of cytotoxic drugs in the treatment of cancer, especially bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, colorectal cancer and cancers of the oral and nasal cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of amphiphilic photosensitizing agents which have a water solubility of at least 0.5 mg/ml and to their use in methods of photochemical internalization. Such salts may be formed from a pharmaceutically acceptable base, for example an organic amine such as an amino alcohol, or from a pharmaceutically acceptable acid, for example a sulphonic acid or a sulphonic acid derivative. Due to their increased water solubility, such salts are particularly suitable for use in the preparation of parenteral pharmaceutical preparations, e.g. for use as solutions for injection or infusion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the activity of kinase inhibitors in target cells, and more specifically for enhancing the activity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), said method comprising contacting a cell with a kinase inhibitor and a photosensitizing agent and irradiating said cell with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosensitizing agent, and to the use of this method for enhancing the effects of kinase inhibitors or kinase inhibitor-based drugs in particular to achieve cell death, for example, in cancer treatment and other diseases or conditions in which kinase inhibitors, such as TKIs, have a beneficial effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for introducing a molecule into the cytosol of a cell in which the cell is contacted with a photosensitising agent, the cell is irradiated with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosensitising agent and, substantially at the same time or after the irradiation, the cell is contacted with the molecule to be introduced, particularly for use in cancer treatment, gene therapy and vaccination.

Abstract: A method for introducing a molecule into the cytosol of a cell in which the cell is contacted with a photosensitizing agent, the cell is irradiated with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosensitizing agent and, substantially at the same time or after the irradiation, the cell is contacted with the molecule to be introduced, particularly for use in cancer treatment, gene therapy and vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for introducing a molecule into the cytosol of a cell in which the cell is contacted with a photosensitising agent, the cell is irradiated with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosensitising agent and, substantially at the same time or after the irradiation, the cell is contacted with the molecule to be introduced, particularly for use in cancer treatment, gene therapy and vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for introducing a molecule into the cytosol of a cell in which the cell is contacted with a photosentistising agent, the cell is irradiated with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosentisitising agent and, substantially at the same time or after the irradiation, the cell is contacted with the molecule to be introduced, particularly for use in cancer treatment, gene therapy and vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for introducing a molecule into the cytosol of a cell in which the cell is contacted with a photosentistising agent, the cell is irradiated with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosentisitising agent and, substantially at the same time or after the irradiation, the cell is contacted with the molecule to be introduced, particularly for use in cancer treatment, gene therapy and vaccination.

Abstract: Targetable diagnostic and/or therapeutically active agents, e.g. ultrasound contrast agents, comprising a suspension in an aqueous carrier liquid of a reporter comprising gas-containing or gas-generating material, said agent being capable of forming at least two types of binding pairs with a target.

Abstract: Targetable diagnostic and/or therapeutically active agents, e.g. ultrasound contrast agents, having reporters comprising gas-filled microbubbles stabilised by monolayers of film-forming surfactants, the reporter being coupled or linked to at least one vector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for introducing a molecule into the cytosol of a cell in which the cell is contacted with a photosensitising agent, the cell is irradiated with light of a wavelength effective to activate the photosensitising agent and, substantially at the same time or after the irradiation, the cell is contacted with the molecule to be introduced, particularly for use in cancer treatment, gene therapy and vaccination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for introducing molecules in cells by disrupting endosomal and lysosomal membranes using photodynamic treatment, without killing the majority of the cells by the photodynamic treatment. More particularly, this invention includes a method for transferring DNA and/or RNA, such as genes, to cells by photochemically inducing the disruption of endosomes and lysosomes.

Abstract: Targetable diagnostic and/or therapeutically active agents, e.g. ultrasound contrast agents, comprising a suspension in an aqueous carrier liquid of a reporter comprising gas-containing or gas-generating material, said agent being capable of forming at least two types of binding pairs with a target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for introducing molecules in cells by disrupting endosomal and lysosomal membranes using photodynamic treatment, without killing the majority of the cells by the photodynamic treatment. More particularly, this invention includes a method for transferring DNA and/or RNA, such as genes, to cells by photochemically inducing the disruption of endosomes and lysosomes.

Abstract: Targetable diagnostic and/or therapeutically active agents, e.g. ultrasound contrast agents, comprising a suspension in an aqueous carrier liquid of a reporter comprising gas-containing or gas-generating material, said agent being capable of forming at least two types of binding pairs with a target.

Abstract: Targetable diagnostic and/or therapeutically active agents, e.g. ultrasound contrast agents, having reporters comprising gas-filled microbubbles stabilized by monolayers of film-forming surfactants, the reporter being coupled or linked to at least one vector.

Abstract: Targetable diagnostic and/or therapeutically active agents, e.g. ultrasound contrast agents, comprising a suspension in an aqueous carrier liquid of a reporter comprising gas-containing or gas-generating material, said agent being capable of forming at least two types of binding pairs with a target.