Silica nanocarriers hybridized with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and curcumin through equilibrium or enforced adsorption technique. Methods for dual delivery of SPIONs and curcumin to a target for diagnosis or therapy, for example, for SPION-based magnetic resonance imaging or for targeted delivery of curcumin to a cell or tissue. The technique can be extend to co-precipitation of mixed metal oxide involving Ni, Mn, Co and Cu oxide. The calcination temperature can be varied from 500-900 C. The nanocombination is functionalized with chitosan, polyacrylic acid, PLGA or another agent to increase its biocompatibility in vivo.

The present application provides a compound comprising at least one isotopically labeled nitrogen atom for use in diagnosing a condition or disease in a subject, compositions and kits comprising the compound and methods of using the same.

Alkylphosphocholine analogs incorporating a chelating moiety that is chelated to gadolinium are disclosed herein. The alkylphophocholine analogs are compounds having the formula: ##STR00001##
or a salt thereof. R.sub.1 includes a chelating agent that is chelated to a gadolinium atom; a is 0 or 1; n is an integer from 12 to 30; m is 0 or 1; Y is H, OH, COOH, COOX, OCOX, or OX, wherein X is an alkyl or an arylalkyl; R.sub.2 is N.sup.+H.sub.3, N.sup.+H.sub.2Z, N.sup.+HZ.sub.2, or N.sup.+Z.sub.3, wherein each Z is independently an alkyl or an aroalkyl; and b is 1 or 2. The compounds can be used to detect solid tumors or to treat solid tumors. In detection/imaging applications, the gadolinium emits signals that are detectable using magnetic resonance imaging. In therapeutic treatment, the gadolinium emits tumor-targeting charged particles when exposed to epithermal neutrons.

Salicylic acid-based polymeric CEST contrast agents targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen, pharmaceutical composition comprising the same and methods of use thereof are disclosed.

The present invention provides a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of any of the formulas (I)-(III) below:

(I) an amino acid sequence of (X1) [D] P [D] (X2) [D] wherein X1 is W or F, X2 is S or T, and each amino acid symbol immediately followed by symbol [D] is a D form of the amino acid,
(II) an amino acid sequence of P[D]T[D] (X).sub.n F[D] wherein (X).sub.n is any amino acid in the number of n selected independently of each other, n is an integer of 0-4, and the symbol [D] is as defined above,
(III) an amino acid sequence that is a Retro-inverso of the amino acid sequence of any of the aforementioned (I) and the aforementioned (II);
and a conjugate containing the peptide and a functional part.

The present disclosure provides compounds comprising a tetrapyrrole (e.g., a tetrapyrrole group) linked via a linker to one or more ligands and uses of the compounds. The compounds may be used as imaging agents (e.g., MRI contrast agents) or as both imaging and therapeutic agents. The compounds may be used to treat individuals in need of treatment for a hyperproliferative disorder, such as, for example, malignancy. The present disclosure also provides kits comprising pharmaceutical preparations containing any one or any combination of the compounds described herein.

The present invention relates to an oligopeptide and conjugates thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of these oligopeptide conjugates for treating or diagnosing disorders mediated by amyloid deposits. Finally, the present invention also relates to a coupling method for obtaining oligopeptide coupled with a substance of interest (functional conjugates).

Provided herein are compositions Gd(III)-dithiolane gold nanoparticle conjugates and methods of use thereof. In particular, compositions and method find use in in vivo imaging (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)), for example, of pancreatic tissue.

Described herein are compositions and methods for treating or imaging Alzheimer's disease (AD). The compositions comprise a biotin moiety and a siRNA moiety, without the need for a targeting agent such as an antibody, avidin, or streptavidin. In certain embodiments, the compositions further comprise a diagnostic agent.

Described herein is a method for detecting changes in blood flow in a tissue portion and/or body portion of an individual. The method can be used to detect any sort of pathology, trauma or insult which results in blood flow change. Specifically, this method uses hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI to detect xenon perfusion changes in tissues such as brain tissue that corresponds to changes in blood flow, for example, changes caused by functional activities of the brain or regions of the body where blood flow may be compromised.