Abstract: Multimodal nanoparticles are nanoparticles containing contrast agents for PAT and one or more of luminescence imaging, x-ray imaging, and/or MRI. The multimodal nanoparticles can have a dielectric core comprising an oxide with a metal coating on the core. The particles can be metal speckled. The multimodal nanoparticles can be used for therapeutic purposes such as ablation of tumors or by neutron capture in addition to use as contrast agents for imaging.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel fluorescent core-shell nanoparticles comprising an encapsulated fluorescent core comprising an ionically bound fluorescent dye and a metal oxide shell. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention a core containing indocyanine green (ICG) with a silica shell that displays excellent photostability for generation of a near infrared fluorescence signal. The fluorescent core-shell nanoparticle can be further modified to act as an MRI, x-ray, or PAT contrast agent. The ICG nanoparticles can also be used as photodynamic therapeutic agent. Other embodiments of the invention directed to methods of making the novel core-shell nanoparticles and to the use of the core-shell nanoparticles for in vitro or in vivo imaging.

Abstract: Novel fluorescent dye comprising metal oxide nanoparticles are prepared where the nanoparticles are as small as 3 nm or up to 7000 nm in diameter and where the dye is bound within the metal oxide matrix. In some embodiments the invention, novel dyes are covalently attached to the matrix and in other embodiments of the invention a dye is coordinate or ionic bound within the metal oxide matrix. A method for preparing the novel covalently bondable modified fluorescent dyes is presented. A method to prepare silica comprising nanoparticles that are 3 to 8 nm in diameter is presented. In some embodiments, the fluorescent dye comprising metal oxide nanoparticles are further decorated with functionality for use as multimodal in vitro or in vivo imaging agents. In other embodiments of the invention, the fluorescent dye comprising metal oxide nanoparticles provide therapeutic activity and incorporated therapeutic temperature monitoring.

Abstract: Multimodal nanoparticles are nanoparticles containing contrast agents for PAT and one or more of luminescence imaging, x-ray imaging, and/or MRI. The multimodal nanoparticles can have a dielectric core comprising an oxide with a metal coating on the core. The particles can be metal speckled. The multimodal nanoparticles can be used for therapeutic purposes such as ablation of tumors or by neutron capture in addition to use as contrast agents for imaging.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of cancer involves delivering a surface active agent to an organism, where the surface active agent selectively partitions to and kills cancer cells as opposed to healthy cells. The surface active agent can be an ionic or a non-ionic surfactant with a HLB of less than 29 or a mixture of surface active agents with a HLB of less than 40, where the hydrophobic portion is a lesser fraction of the surface active agent than the hydrophilic portion. A fluorescence method of detecting and locating cancer cells in an organism involves delivering a surface active agent, where the surface active agent includes a fluorescence moiety that upon selective partitioning of the surface active agent to the cancer cells and irradiation by a radiation source to excite the fluorescence moiety, a fluorescence emission is observed permitting the detection and location of the cancerous tissue by local volumes of relatively high intensity emission.

Abstract: Multimodal nanoparticles are nanoparticles containing contrast agents for PAT and one or more of luminescence imaging, x-ray imaging, and/or MRI. The multimodal nanoparticles can have a dielectric core comprising an oxide with a metal coating on the core. The particles can be metal speckled. The multimodal nanoparticles can be used for therapeutic purposes such as ablation of tumors or by neutron capture in addition to use as contrast agents for imaging.