Provided herein are nanoparticle-lipid composite carriers as theranostic agents, particularly for diagnosis and/or treatment of cancers and related diseases and conditions. In particular embodiments, the carrier composites comprise a lipid core and an outer shell of functionalized nanoparticles (fNPs).

The invention relates to Cathepsin-binding compounds bound to a carrier comprising a diagnostic moiety, for use in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases, and/or for use in the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases, wherein the Cathepsin-binding compound binds to inflammatory cells of the tumour stroma. The invention also relates to Cathepsin B-targeting compounds and Cathepsin B-binding and liposome-binding compounds.

A submicron structure includes a silica body defining a plurality of pores that are suitable to receive molecules therein, the silica body further defining an outer surface between pore openings of said plurality of pores; and a plurality of anionic molecules attached to the outer surface of the silica body. The anionic molecules provide hydrophilicity to the submicron structure and are suitable to provide repulsion between other similar submicron structures, and the submicron structure has a maximum dimension less than one micron.

Disclosed are peptides and peptidomimetics that in some embodiments include the amino acid sequence KRGARST or (SEQ ID NO: 1), AKRGARSTA or (SEQ ID NO: 2), or CKRGARSTC (SEQ ID NO: 3). Also disclosed are conjugates and compositions that onclude the peptides and/or peptidomimetics, methods for directing a moiety to tumor lymphatic vasculature, methods for imaging tumor lymphatic vasculature, methods for reducing or inhibiting tumor metastasis, methods for reducing the number of tumor lymphatic vessels, methods for treating cancer, methods for treating a disease or disorder associated with a gC1q/p32 receptor biological activity, methods for detecting the presence of a gC1q/p32 receptor, methods for detecting interactions between gC1q/p32 receptors and the presently disclosed conjugates and compositions, methods for delivering the presently disclosed conjugates and compositions to gC1q/p32 receptors, methods for assessing gC1q/p32 receptor levels in cells, methods for identifying subjects having diseases associated with gC1q/p32 receptor biological activities, and methods for screening for compounds that interact with gC1q/p32 receptors.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits comprising core-satellite nanocomposites useful for photothermal and/or MRI applications (e.g., tumor treatment and/or imaging). In certain embodiments, the core-satellite nanocomposites comprise: i) a core nanoparticle complex comprising a biocompatible coating surrounding a nanoparticle core, and ii) at least one satellite component attached to, or absorbed to, the biocompatible coating. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle core and satellite component are composed of near-infrared photothermal agent material and/or MRI contrast agent material. In further embodiments, the satellite component is additionally or alternatively composed of near-infrared optical dye material.

Disclosed is a composition including magnetic nanoparticles for use in the treatment of a tissue volume including pathological cells in an individual, wherein a portion only of the tissue volume is occupied by the magnetic nanoparticles upon administration of the composition to the individual and the magnetic nanoparticles are excited by radiations.

Disclosed herein are complexes of gadolinium metal, ligand and meglumine that are substantially free of non-aqueous solvents. In particular, solvent-free complexes of 1) gadopentetate dimeglumine and 2) gadoterate meglumine are disclosed and methods of their preparation are disclosed. In addition, methods are disclosed for purifying reactants, monitoring and controlling pH, quantifying the free gadolinium content, quantifying the concentration of gadolinium-ligand complex in aqueous solution, and procedures for producing a drug product in one step. The one step process eliminates the need to dry the gadolinium-ligand complex, which is typically highly hygroscopic. The one step process includes purification steps that do not require the use of non-aqueous solvents.

Disclosed herein are complexes of gadolinium metal, ligand and meglumine that are substantially free of non-aqueous solvents. In particular, solvent-free complexes of 1) gadopentetate dimeglumine and 2) gadoterate meglumine are disclosed and methods of their preparation are disclosed. In addition, methods are disclosed for purifying reactants, monitoring and controlling pH, quantifying the free gadolinium content, quantifying the concentration of gadolinium-ligand complex in aqueous solution, and procedures for producing a drug product in one step. The one step process eliminates the need to dry the gadolinium-ligand complex, which is typically highly hygroscopic. The one step process includes purification steps that do not require the use of non-aqueous solvents.

A synthetic calcium phosphate-based biomedical material comprising gadolinium. The material may comprises a compound having the general chemical formula: Ca.sub.10yGd.sub.y(PO.sub.4).sub.6x(SiO.sub.4)x(OH).sub.2x+y where 0<x<1.3 and 0<y<1.3.

The present invention relates to a superparamagnetic gold nanoparticle cluster-protein nanoparticle fusion body for magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic thermotherapy. According to the present invention, a superparamagnetic gold nanoparticle cluster-protein nanoparticle fusion body which has target directionality and a high density of ultrafine gold nanoparticles uniformly coupled to the surface of protein nanoparticles can be fabricated with neither a separate surface stabilization process nor a separate target directionality conferring process. Hence, the superparamagnetic gold nanoparticle cluster-protein nanoparticle fusion body according to the present invention is superior to conventional gold nanoparticles in terms of biocompatibility and has excellent target directionality as well as being identified to have a temperature elevation potential in an alternating magnetic field and a functionality as a T2-MRI contrast medium thanks to the superparamagnetism property of the ultrafine gold nanoparticles. Therefore, the superparamagnetic gold nanoparticle cluster-protein nanoparticle fusion body according to the present invention can be utilized as a core technology in the fields of magnetic thermotherapy and magnetic resonance imaging contrast media.