The present invention provides stem cells loaded with bi-functional magnetic nanoparticles (nanoparticle-loaded stem cells (NLSC)) that both: a) heat in an alternating magnetic field (AMF); and b) provide MRI contrast enhancement for MR-guided hyperthermia. The nanoparticles in the NLSC are non-toxic, and do not alter stem cell proliferation and differentiation, the nanoparticles do however, become heated in an alternating magnetic field, enabling therapeutic applications for cancer treatment. Due to the fact that circulating stem cells home to tumors and metastasis, and participate in neovascularization of growing tumors, the NLSC of the present invention allows tracking of the tissue distribution of infused stem cells and selective heating of targeted tissues with AMF. NLSC can deliver hyperthermia to hypoxic areas in tumors for sensitization of those areas to subsequent treatment, thus delivering therapy to the most treatment-resistant tumor regions. The heating of diseased tissue either results in direct cell killing or makes the tumor more susceptible to radio- and/or chemotherapy. The targeted hyperthermia provided by the present invention has clinical potential because it is associated with fewer side effects, and can also be used in combination with conventional treatment modalities, significantly enhancing their effectiveness. The NLSC of the present invention can be used for MR image-guided hyperthermia in oncology, in stem cell research for cell tracking and heating, and for elimination of mis-injected stem cells.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for imaging and treating various diseases and disorders, including cancers. The composition of the invention can include a plurality of biodegradable micro-beads, each embedding a plurality of nano-beads, further including a polymer, a radionuclide, a radionuclide chelator, a radioligand, a chemotherapeutic agent, and a cell-penetrating peptide. Upon injection into a blood vessel supplying a cancer tumor, the micro-beads lodge into the tumor and degrade, releasing the nano-beads with a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a more homogeneous and deeper distribution of radiation or chemotherapeutic agents throughout the target tumor. The micro-beads provide a local, sustained, and controlled delivery nano-beads including therapeutic or diagnostic agents.

A system and method for locating magnetic material. In one embodiment the system includes a magnetic probe; a power module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to supply current to the magnetic probe; a sense module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to receive signals from the magnetic probe; and a computer in electrical communication with the power module and the sense module. The computer generates a waveform that controls the supply of current from the power module and receives a signal from the sense module that indicates the presence of magnetic material. The magnetic probe is constructed from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of substantially 10.sup.6/ C. or less and a Young's modulus of substantially 50 GPa or greater. In one embodiment magnetic nanoparticles are injected into a breast and the lymph nodes collecting the particles are detected with the probe and deemed sentinel nodes.

The invention discloses a composition comprising surface modified iron oxide nanoparticles with citric acid modified cyclodextrin with a hydrodynamic diameter of less than 10 nm and a hydrophobic molecule.

The composition finds use in targeted delivery of a hydrophobic drug and as contrast agent in imaging applications.

The disclosure relates to compositions comprising isolated mitochondria or combined mitochondrial agents, and methods of treating disorders using such compositions.

Dendronized metallic oxide nanoparticles, a process for preparing the same and their uses.

A matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activatable conjugate is provided to inhibit glioblastoma (GBM) proliferation through glioma tumor cell and glioma stem cell differentiation. The conjugate is structurally characterized by having dichloroacetate (DCA), as a therapeutic drug, linked, via a MMP cleavable peptide, to a nanoparticle suitable for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) such as a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SIPO) or an ultra superparamagnetic iron oxide (uSIPO).

The invention relates to an antitumor composition based on hydrophobized hyaluronan and inorganic nanoparticles stabilized by oleic acid. The hydrophobized hyaluronan in the form of an acylated hyaluronan serves in the composition as a carrier of inorganic nanoparticles. Out of the group of inorganic nanoparticles, the composition may comprise superparamagnetic nanoparticles, nanoparticles of ZnO and moreover, upconversion nanoparticles. Said composition is selectively cytotoxic with respect to both suspension and adherent tumor cell lines, especially with respect to tumor cell lines of colorectum carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, lung carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and breast adenocarcinoma. The highest cytotoxic effects were observed in case of the composition based on an oleyl derivative of hyaluronan with SPIONs. The composition of acylated hyaluronan with SPIONs may also be advantageously used for an in vivo detection of accumulation of the composition in the body, preferably in a tumor or in liver. Said composition is sterilizable in the final package.

The present invention provides new methods for inflammation and infection imaging and related medical applications thereof. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for the diagnosis of inflammation and/or infection. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for the treatment or prevention of inflammation and/or infection. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for monitoring the effect of inflammation and/or infection treatment, and/or methods for monitoring an inflammation and/or infection treatment regimen. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for selecting subjects for an inflammation and/or infection treatment. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for determining the dosage of a drug for the treatment of inflammation and/or infection.

The invention relates to a novel use of ultrafine nanoparticles, of use as a diagnostic, therapeutic or theranostic agent, characterized by their mode of administration via the airways. The invention is also directed toward the applications which follow from this novel mode of administration, in particular for imaging the lungs, and the diagnosis or prognosis of pathological pulmonary conditions. In the therapeutic field, the applications envisioned are those of radiosensitizing or radioactive agents for radiotherapy (and optionally curietherapy), or for neutron therapy, or of agents for PDT (photodynamic therapy), in particular for the treatment of lung tumors.