Provided herein are MRI agent-loaded platelets, methods of preparing MRI agent-loaded platelets, and methods of using MRI agent-loaded platelets. In some embodiments, methods of loading MRI agents into platelets include contacting platelets with an MRI agent, a cell penetrating peptide, and a loading buffer that can include a salt, a base, a loading agent, and optionally at least one organic solvent.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a contrast medium using a paramagnetic metal that accumulates at an abnormal protein deposition or aggregation site in the brain. Magnetic nanoparticles for image diagnosis which comprise magnetic iron oxide particles, gold fine particles supported on the surface of the magnetic iron oxide particles, a polymer chain attached to the gold fine particles and a molecule directing for a neurodegenerative disease-related protein and attached to at least a part of the polymer chain, and which are to be administered transnasally. These magnetic nanoparticles for image diagnosis are useful as an active ingredient of a contrast medium that accumulates at an abnormal protein deposition or aggregation site in the brain.

Bolaamphiphilic compounds are provided according to formula I:

HG.sup.2-L.sup.1-HG.sup.1I

where HG.sup.1, HG.sup.2 and L.sup.1 are as defined herein. Provided bolaamphilphilic compounds and the pharmaceutical compositions thereof are useful for delivering imaging agents into animal or human brain.

A process for the preparation of beads including a biocompatible hydrophobic polymer, a perfluorocarbon, polyvinylalcohol and optionally a metal compound, including the steps of: adding the perfluorocarbon and optionally the metal compound to a solution of the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer in a polar solvent to provide a first liquid mixture, adding the first liquid mixture to an aqueous solution of a biocompatible surfactant including polyvinylalcohol under sonication to obtain a second liquid mixture, a) maintaining the sonication of the second liquid mixture while cooling, b) evaporating the polar solvent from the second liquid mixture to obtain a suspension of beads including the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer, the perfluorocarbon and optionally the metal compound, c) separating the beads from the suspension and preparing a water suspension of the beads and d) freeze-drying the water suspension to obtain the beads, wherein the addition of the first liquid mixture to the biocompatible surfactant in step b) is performed within a period of at most 10 seconds, wherein the sonication in step b) and the sonication in step c) are performed directly into the liquid mixtures by for example a probe or flow sonicator at an amplitude of at least 120 m for 0.01-10 minutes and wherein the weight ratio of the biocompatible surfactant to the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer is at least 3:1. Beads having close F-H2O interactions, which are suitable for imaging purposes.

Imaging nanoagents including a polymalic acid-based molecular scaffold, a chlorotoxin peptide or a variant thereof, and at least one fluorescent moiety are provided. Methods for detecting, treating and removing a cancer in a subject by administering the imaging nanoagent are described.

An engineered particle for detecting analytes in an environment includes an electromagnetic receiver that is configured to preferentially receive electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization relative to the orientation of the electromagnetic receiver. The engineered particle additionally includes an energy emitter coupled to the electromagnetic receiver such that a portion of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic receiver is transferred to and emitted by the energy emitter. The engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte. The engineered particle can additionally be configured to align with a directed energy field in the environment. The selective reception of electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization and/or alignment with a directed energy field can enable orientation tracking of individual engineered particles, imaging in high-noise environments, or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the engineered particle is also provided.

Provided are DNA-coated nanoparticles (DNA-NPS), superparamagnetic nanoparticles (DNA-SPNs), and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (DNA-SPIONs) as efficient imaging agents for targeting and imaging atherosclerotic lesions and treating atherosclerotic disease. The DNA-NS, DNA-SPNs, and DNA-SPIONs can enter macrophage cells via the Class A scavenger receptor (SR-A)-mediated pathways and can be used to specifically target atheroscleortic plaques.

Multifunctional nanoparticles can include two or more different populations of nanocrystals that impart a combination of properties arising from the constituent populations in a single, multifunctional nanoparticle.

A composite implant for providing simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic (CT) imaging contrast is disclosed. The composite implant is formed of a calcium compound in the form of nano or microparticles doped with a first dopant configured to provide MRI contrast and a second dopant configured to provide CT contrast. The calcium compound is loaded onto a polymer gel matrix and lyophilized to form a mass with 3-dimensionally interconnected porosity, configured to provide tissue integration and proliferation sites. Methods of forming the composite implant are also disclosed. The implant could be a scaffold or bead structured to enable treatment of human or animal patient for bone/cartilage injury or defect by implantation, with MRI and CT monitoring.

A significant enhancement of detection capabilities of the room temperature MPQ is seen using optical lithography-defined, ferromagnetic iron-nickel alloy microdisks. Irreversible transitions between strongly non-collinear (vortex) and a collinear single domain states, driven by an ac magnetic field, translate into a nonlinear magnetic response that enables ultrasensitive detection of material at relatively small magnetic fields.