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.

The invention is directed to the field of gene therapy, i.e. gene delivery into target cells, tissue, organ and organism, and more particularly to gene delivery via viral vectors. The inventors showed that it is possible by chemical coupling to modulate the coupling of a ligand in the surface of the capsid of AAV, for example AAV2 and AAV3b. In particular, the present invention relates to a recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle having at least one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins, chemically coupled with at least one ligand L, wherein coupling of said ligand L is implemented through a bond comprising a CSNH bond and an optionally substituted aromatic moiety. Particularly, the inventors tested the chemical coupling of mannose ligand on AAV2 for subretinally injection to rats. The present invention further relates to a method for chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector particle with at least one ligand L and to a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle obtained by said method as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising it and their corresponding medical use.

Disclosed is a conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe, including a fluorescent conjugated polymer, a surface ligand, a target molecule, a near-infrared fluorescent dye and optionally a gadolinium-containing magnetic resonance contrast agent. This application also discloses a method for preparing the conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe, including: adding raw materials to an organic solvent followed by ultrasonication to obtain a mixture; and adding the mixture to ultrapure water and continuously ultrasonicating the reaction mixture. The conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe can be applied in a combined molecular imaging technique of near infrared fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging and magnetic resonance imaging to effectively recognize metastatic lymph nodes and normal lymph nodes, and it can be retained in the metastatic lymph nodes for a long time, meeting the requirements for long-term observation. Moreover, the near-infrared fluorescent conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe can generate reactive oxygen under irradiation, which is suitable for the photodynamic treatment of tumors.

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 invention provides iron oxide magnetic particles containing iron oxide and MX.sub.n, wherein M as a transition metal containing electrons in a 5d orbital on the periodic table includes one or more selected from the group consisting of Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, and Hg, X includes one or more selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, and I, and n is an integer of 1 to 6.

The present invention provides iron oxide magnetic particles containing iron oxide and MX.sub.n, wherein M as a transition metal containing electrons in a 5d orbital on the periodic table includes one or more selected from the group consisting of Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, and Hg, X includes one or more selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, and I, and n is an integer of 1 to 6.

This invention relates to the detection of the diseases by using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST)Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Previously, there was no way to use CEST MRI to early detect and map the agents bind to amyloid beta protein, tau protein, alpha-synuclein protein in neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammation in many diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases. The exogenous agents can be used to produce MRI contrast, such as agents contain exchangeable protons such as hydroxyl, amine, and amide protons, and thereby provide imaging and mapping for detection of the amyloid beta protein, tau protein, alpha-synuclein protein, and aggregation proteins in neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation in many diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, and other inflammatory diseases.

The present invention provides compositions relating to nanoparticles, such as nanocapsules, that selectively target cells associated with diseases or disorders (e.g., cancer cells). The present invention further relates to methods relating to the said nanoparticles for imaging, detection, and treatment of diseases or disorders in a subject. The present invention additionally provides kits that find use in the practice of the methods of the invention.

A size-changing nanoparticle construct for biomedical applications, and methods to fabricate and use such nanoparticle constructs.

A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles is disclosed. The method comprises the step of performing phase transfer of a plurality of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands on a surface there of by contacting the metal oxide particles with a combination of tertiary amine and water to form a biphasic mixture, and agitating said biphasic mixture to produce an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands and tertiary amine ligands on the surface thereof.