Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for identifying a solid tumor cell target. Compositions and methods for treating prostate cancer are also disclosed. Further, cancer therapeutic compositions comprising CT20p are disclosed. Nanoparticles that are conjugated with a targeting ligand that is a substrate for a solid tumor-specific cell protein are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions described herein use polysaccharide nanoparticles (or polysaccharide-coated nano -particles) to retain and deliver unaltered therapeutic agents to sites of disease. The polysaccharide nanoparticles are non-covalently associated with the unaltered therapeutic agent. The polysaccharide is able to retain cargo (drugs, diagnostics, etc.) without chemical modification of the agent. The nanoparticle maintains its association with the agent through non-covalent interactions but releases its agent in response to changes in the microenvironment, e.g., at the site of cancer cells or cancer tissue.

Abstract: A method for treating leukemia is disclosed. The method comprises administering to a subject with leukemia an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a naked iron oxide nanoparticle, wherein the composition is not loaded with an active agent. Also disclosed is a method for treating cancer. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a metal oxide nanoparticle comprising a polymeric coating over a metal oxide core, wherein the nanoparticle is loaded with a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating disease by modulation of PSMA activity. Such modulations can lead to, for example, alterations in cancer tumor metabolism, oxygenation, vascularization, and metastasis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of drug delivery, in particular the delivery of unmodified cargo molecules (such as doxorubicin and Taxol©) using iron oxide nanoparticles as therapeutic delivery agents. Specifically described are methods to entrap cargo (i.e. known therapeutics (drugs) and other types of molecules) into the exterior coating of iron oxide nanoparticles, including iron oxide nanoparticles approved for use in humans. Additionally, methods describe the use of such drug-loaded nanoparticles as therapeutic delivery agents. Further, methods include quantifying and visualizing the amount of cargo molecule loading levels when preparing these therapeutic agents and then quantifying and visualizing the amount of delivery (i.e. unloading) of these cargo molecules from these nanoparticles using compact magnetic relaxometers, common NMR instruments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instruments.

Abstract: Methods, systems, compositions include biocompatible polymer coated nanoceria that function as aqueous redox catalyst with enhanced activity at an acidic to moderately alkaline pH value between 1 and 8. The compositions are used as oxidizing agents for decomposition, decontamination or inactivation of organic contaminants, such as, pesticides and chemical warfare agents. Another use includes nanoceria as targetable nanocatalyst prepared by conjugating various targeting ligands to the nanoparticle coating to form a colorimetric or fluorescent probe in immunoassays and other molecule binding assays that involve the use of a molecule in solution that changes the color of the solution or emits a fluorescent signal, where localization of nanoceria to organs or tissue is assessed by treatment with an oxidation sensitive dye or other detection devices.

Abstract: Differential surface-charge-dependent localization of nanoceria in normal cells and cancer cells plays a critical role in the toxicity profile of a nanoceria particle. Engineered surface-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles with different surface charges that are positive, negative and neutral provide therapeutic results for normal and cancer cell lines. Results show that nanoceria with a positive or neutral charge enters most of the cell lines studied, while nanoceria with a negative charge internalizes mostly in the cancer cell lines. Moreover, upon entry into the cells, nanoceria is localized to different cell compartments (e.g. cytoplasm and lysosomes) depending on the nanoparticle surface charge. The internalization and subcellular localization of nanoceria plays a key role in the nanoparticle cytotoxicity profile, exhibiting significant toxicity when they localize in the lysosomes of the cancer cell lines.

Abstract: Methods, systems, compositions include biocompatible polymer coated nanoceria that function as aqueous redox catalyst with enhanced activity at an acidic to moderately alkaline pH value between 1 and 8. The compositions are used as oxidizing agents for decomposition, decontamination or inactivation of organic contaminants, such as, pesticides and chemical warfare agents. Another use includes nanoceria as targetable nanocatalyst prepared by conjugating various targeting ligands to the nanoparticle coating to form a colorimetric or fluorescent probe in immunoassays and other molecule binding assays that involve the use of a molecule in solution that changes the color of the solution or emits a fluorescent signal, where localization of nanoceria to organs or tissue is assessed by treatment with an oxidation sensitive dye or other detection devices.

Abstract: Differential surface-charge-dependent localization of nanoceria in normal cells and cancer cells plays a critical role in the toxicity profile of a nanoceria particle. Engineered surface-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles with different surface charges that are positive, negative and neutral provide therapeutic results for normal and cancer cell lines. Results show that nanoceria with a positive or neutral charge enters most of the cell lines studied, while nanoceria with a negative charge internalizes mostly in the cancer cell lines. Moreover, upon entry into the cells, nanoceria is localized to different cell compartments (e.g. cytoplasm and lysosomes) depending on the nanoparticle surface charge. The internalization and subcellular localization of nanoceria plays a key role in the nanoparticle cytotoxicity profile, exhibiting significant toxicity when they localize in the lysosomes of the cancer cell lines.

Abstract: A method for treating leukemia is disclosed. The method comprises administering to a subject with leukemia an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a naked iron oxide nanoparticle, wherein the composition is not loaded with an active agent. Also disclosed is a method for treating cancer. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a metal oxide nanoparticle comprising a polymeric coating over a metal oxide core, wherein the nanoparticle is loaded with a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing agent.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for identifying a solid tumor cell target. Compositions and methods for treating prostate cancer are also disclosed. Further, cancer therapeutic compositions comprising CT20p are disclosed. Nanoparticles that are conjugated with a targeting ligand that is a substrate for a solid tumor-specific cell protein are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions described herein use polysaccharide nanoparticles (or polysaccharide-coated nanoparticles) to retain and deliver unaltered therapeutic agents to sites of disease. The polysaccharide nanoparticles are non-covalently associated with the unaltered therapeutic agent. The polysaccharide is able to retain cargo (drugs, diagnostics, etc.) without chemical modification of the agent. The nanoparticle maintains its association with the agent through non-covalent interactions but releases its agent in response to changes in the microenvironment, e.g., at the site of cancer cells or cancer tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating disease by modulation of PSMA activity. Such modulations can lead to, for example, alterations in cancer tumor metabolism, oxygenation, vascularization, and metastasis. The present invention encompasses the recognition that PSMA, through its role in a complex signaling cascade, can affect cancer progression, angiogenesis, and neovascularization. The present invention provides, among other things, methods of treating cancer, including but not limited to cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and vascularization by modulation of PSMA activity.

Abstract: Differential surface-charge-dependent localization of nanoceria in normal cells and cancer cells plays a critical role in the toxicity profile of a nanoceria particle. Engineered surface-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles with different surface charges that are positive, negative and neutral provide therapeutic results for normal and cancer cell lines. Results show that nanoceria with a positive or neutral charge enters most of the cell lines studied, while nanoceria with a negative charge internalizes mostly in the cancer cell lines. Moreover, upon entry into the cells, nanoceria is localized to different cell compartments (e.g. cytoplasm and lysosomes) depending on the nanoparticle surface charge. The internalization and subcellular localization of nanoceria plays a key role in the nanoparticle cytotoxicity profile, exhibiting significant toxicity when they localize in the lysosomes of the cancer cell lines.

Abstract: Differential surface-charge-dependent localization of nanoceria in normal cells and cancer cells plays a critical role in the toxicity profile of a nanoceria particle. Engineered surface-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles with different surface charges that are positive, negative and neutral provide therapeutic results for normal and cancer cell lines. Results show that nanoceria with a positive or neutral charge enters most of the cell lines studied, while nanoceria with a negative charge internalizes mostly in the cancer cell lines. Moreover, upon entry into the cells, nanoceria is localized to different cell compartments (e.g. cytoplasm and lysosomes) depending on the nanoparticle surface charge. The internalization and subcellular localization of nanoceria plays a key role in the nanoparticle cytotoxicity profile, exhibiting significant toxicity when they localize in the lysosomes of the cancer cell lines.

Abstract: Methods, systems and compositions are disclosed wherein normal, non-transformed, healthy biological cells are protected from oxidative stress, radiation therapy and chemotherapy while diseased, transformed cells, such as, cancer cells, are provided no protection by the biocompatible, polymer coated nanoceria composition of the present invention. The polymer-coated nanoceria preparation herein exhibits no toxicity to normal cells and exhibits pH-dependent antioxidant properties at neutral or physiological pH values, between approximately 6.5 to approximately 11.0 and is inactive as an antioxidant at acidic pH values between approximately 2.0 to approximately 6.4. Improved therapeutic agents and cytoprotecting devices are based on the newly discovered, pH dependent properties of polymer-coated nanoceria that provide selective cytoprotection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of drug delivery, in particular the delivery of unmodified cargo molecules (such as doxorubicin and Taxol®) using iron oxide nanoparticles as therapeutic delivery agents. Specifically described are methods to entrap cargo (i.e. known therapeutics (drugs) and other types of molecules) into the exterior coating of iron oxide nanoparticles, including iron oxide nanoparticles approved for use in humans. Additionally, methods describe the use of such drug-loaded nanoparticles as therapeutic delivery agents. Further, methods include quantifying and visualizing the amount of cargo molecule loading levels when preparing these therapeutic agents and then quantifying and visualizing the amount of delivery (i.e. unloading) of these cargo molecules from these nano-particles using compact magnetic relaxometers, common NMR instruments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instruments.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and materials for facilitating the detection of nucleic acid analytes of interest. Specifically exemplified herein are methods for detecting mycobacterial microorganisms, namely Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis. Also disclosed is new hybridizing magnetic relaxation nanosensor (hMRS) particularly adapted to detect a target nucleic acid analyte of interest.

Abstract: A method of testing bacterial cells for antimicrobial susceptibility includes preparing a suspension of the bacterial cells in a non-nutrient medium, mixing with the suspension an antimicrobial, a carbohydrate usable by the bacterial cells, metallic nanoparticles, and a lectin, and incubating the mixture while monitoring a parameter of the nanoparticles responsive to use of the carbohydrate by the bacterial cells. More broadly stated, the invention includes a method of testing an agent for its effect on cell metabolism by preparing a suspension of cells in a non-nutrient medium, mixing the suspension with the agent, adding a carbohydrate usable by the cells, metallic nanoparticles, and a lectin with binding specificity for the added carbohydrate, and monitoring a nanoparticle parameter responsive to the cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating anthrax, inhibiting anthrax toxins and inhibiting anthrax toxin-induced cytotoxicity. Carboxylic acid-containing small molecules can be used in the methods and compositions disclosed herein, for example, sulindac and derivatives thereof may be used. Methods of screening for carboxylic acid-containing small molecules that can be used to treat anthrax are disclosed. Targeting the anthrax toxin reduces the risks of anthrax spores.