A polymer-free synthesis method is provided for preparation of monodisperse nanostars. The nanostars can be used for treating and imaging cells in in vivo or ex vivo. The modes of treatment include use of a nanostar modified with a photo-activatable drug, which drug is activated by the photo-response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; use of a nanostar modified with a thermally-activatable drug, which drug is activated by a thermal response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; and the thermal response of the nanostar itself to electromagnetic stimulation, which can directly or indirectly cause the death of an undesirable cell.

The invention features an apparatus for producing a fluid stream having plurality of nanoparticles in the fluid stream. The apparatus includes a source configured to provide a fluid stream having a first randomly sized distribution of a plurality of nanoparticles; a flow control zone configured to receive the fluid stream from the source and to control the fluid stream to produce a controlled fluid stream having a selected flow rate; a separation zone configured to receive and to separate the selectively controlled fluid stream into at least one separated fluid stream having a non-randomly sized distribution of nanoparticles; and a collection zone capable of receiving the separated fluid stream according to at least one non-random sized distribution of nanoparticles to produce at least one collected stream. The apparatus is configured for a continuous flow of the fluid stream. A size of a nanoparticle can be related to an intrinsic core diameter, a hydrodynamic diameter, and a combination of intrinsic core diameter and hydrodynamic diameter measurements. The nanoparticles can include non-magnetic nanoparticles, partially magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, superparamagnetic nanoparticles, and a combination of at least two different nanoparticle types. The invention also features methods for producing said fluid streams. The invention further features apparatus and methods for cancer confirmation and targeted therapeutic drug development.

A tissue marker delivery device includes a hollow cannula and a fibrous marker. The hollow cannula has a distal region. The fibrous marker is disposed within the distal region. The fibrous marker includes a plurality of bioabsorbable strands, and a binding agent. Optionally, the tissue marker delivery device may include a short-term marker that includes an imagable agent that does not interfere with imaging adjacent tissue.

A tissue marker delivery device includes a hollow cannula and a fibrous marker. The hollow cannula has a distal region. The fibrous marker is disposed within the distal region. The fibrous marker includes a plurality of bioabsorbable strands, and a binding agent. Optionally, the tissue marker delivery device may include a short-term marker that includes an imagable agent that does not interfere with imaging adjacent tissue.

A method and system that is directed to the local delivery of growth factors to the mammalian CNS to treat CNS disorders associated with neuronal death and/or dysfunction is described.

Described herein are self-assembling protein molecules for delivering a payload, for example, a toxic anti-cancer agent, a cancer immunotherapy, a toxic anti-cancer agent and a cancer immunotherapy, or an imaging agent, to specific tissues. Examples of self-assembled proteins include clathrin and derivatives of clathrin.

Disclosed are nanoparticles comprising octapod iron oxide having eight trigonal bipyramidal arms and a method of preparing the same. The nanoparticles are prepared by heating a mixture of a ferric carboxylate, a carboxylic acid, a chloride salt, water, and a non-polar solvent, to a temperature above about 300 C. Also disclosed is a method of magnetic resonance imaging a tissue in a mammal, comprising use of the aforesaid nanoparticles.

Disclosed herein are nanoparticle immunoconjugates useful for therapeutics and/or diagnostics. The immunoconjugates have diameter (e.g., average diameter) no greater than 20 nanometers (e.g., as measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) in aqueous solution, e.g., saline solution). In certain embodiments, the conjugates are silica-based nanoparticles with single chain antibody fragments attached thereto.

A system is provided which includes nanoparticle conjugates configured to bind with a tumor cell, the nanoparticle conjugate comprising a nanoparticle, at least one targeting entity bound to the nanoparticle, and at least one shielding entity that shields at the at least one targeting entity, the nanoparticle, or both; a body-mountable device mounted on an external surface of a living body and configured to detect a tumor cell binding response signal transmitted through the external surface, wherein the tumor cell binding response signal is related to binding of the nanoparticle conjugates with one or more tumor cells; and a processor configured to non-invasively detect the one or more tumor cells based on the tumor cell response signal. Nanoparticle conjugates and methods for use for treating or imaging tumor cells are also provided.

The present invention relates to novel amphiphilic dendrimers, hereafter denoted Dendri-TAC. The present invention also relates to perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions stabilized by these amphiphilic dendrimers and their uses for in vivo diagnostic and/or for therapy, notably as theranostic tools, for detection and/or treatment of cancer.