A nanoparticle for diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or theranostic applications includes a rod-shaped plant virus like particle (VLP), one or more gadolinium T.sub.1 contrast agents conjugated to an interior surface of the VLP, and a layer of polydopamine (PDA) coated over a portion of the exterior surface of the VLP.

After a stroke the temporal course of microglial/macrophage activation is biphasic. The initial phase promotes neuroinflammation, while the later phase aids neurovascular recovery. Therefore the dynamics of stroke-induced cerebral microglial/macrophage activation are of substantial interest. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to the use of novel anti-Iba-1-targeted superparamagnetic FePt nanoparticles immunocelles in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the spatiotemporal course of the activation of microglia/macrophages in brain tissue at 7, 14, and 28 days post-stroke. Ischemic cerebral lesion areas are identified using T.sub.2-weighted MR images. After injection of FePt nanoparticles as immunocelles, quantitative contrast changes in T.sub.2*-weighted MR images showed that the nanoparticles were taken up solely in brain regions that coincided with areas of microglial/macrophage activation detected by post-mortem immunohistochemistry. There was observed good agreement between the locations of the Fe.sup.+-cells, as shown by Perl's staining for iron, and the Iba-V-microgiia/macrophages, The time course of nanoparticle uptake paralleled the changes of microglial/macrophage activation and phenotypes measured by immunohistochemistry over the four week period post-stroke. Maximum microglial/macrophage activation occurred seven days post-stroke for both measures, and the diminished activation found after two weeks continued to four weeks. The results evidence that nanoparticle-enhanced MRI constitute a novel approach for monitoring the dynamic development of neuroinflammation in living animals during the progression and treatment of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. The implications and methods for diagnosis and monitoring therapy of stroke and other disease states and conditions are presented.

Multi-modal imaging capsule for image-guided proton beam therapy, consisting of a biocompatible polymer layer, .sup.18O-enriched water, and a contrast agent. The biocompatible capsule may be inserted near or inside a tumor under the guidance of X-ray, magnetic resonance, or ultrasonography imaging. Upon proton beam irradiation, the capsule emits positrons, allowing the tumor to be imaged and tracked by a PET detector.

A biocompatible curable composition and a method of detecting a border of a tumor, a tissue of interest, or both including injecting the biocompatible curable composition and contacting the border of a tumor or a tissue, the biocompatible curable composition crosslinks to form a three-dimensional cured nanocomposite, and imaging the three-dimensional (3D) cured nanocomposite, and imaging the 3D cured nanocomposite by at least one of MRI, CT, ultrasound, and X-ray, to detect the border of the tumor or the tissue of interest or track tumor motion during radiotherapy treatment. The biocompatible curable composition comprising an organic polymer having a hydrolysable functional group, a metallic nanoparticle, and a polar or a non-polar solvent. A brachytherapy strand consisting of a biocompatible curable composition and a radio-isotope seed. The biocompatible curable composition is shaped into an elongated cylinder and forms a 3D cured nanocomposite with a radio-isotope seed embedded.

A self-assembled nanostructure including an amphiphilic chitosan and a contrast agent compound is provided. The contrast agent compound is grafted to the amphiphilic chitosan. The chemical bonding between the amphiphilic chitosan and the contrast agent compound has a synergistic effect to further improve the contrasting ability of the contrast agent compound.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for diagnosis and treatment of early-stage atherosclerotic plaques and reduction of plaques in arteries. In particular, provided herein are high-density-lipoprotein-functionalized magnetic nanostructures (HDL-MNS) capable of (i) precise anatomic detection of atherosclerotic lesions, (ii) removal of excess cholesterol from macrophage cells in atherosclerotic plaque, and/or (iii) delivery of therapeutic agents to plaque locations, and methods of diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Provided are compositions and methods for transport, monitoring the transport, and controlled release of active agents. The compositions comprise surface functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles. The iron oxide nanoparticles are surface functionalized with cucurbitril[7] macrocycles. The cavity formed by the CB[7] macrocycles can be used for storage and transport of active agents. The active agents may be imaging agents or may be therapeutic agents which can be released by applying an alternating magnetic field at desired locations.

An hydrogel comprising chitosan and two weak bases having different pKb values. In some embodiments, one of the weak bases if sodium hydrogen carbonate (SHC). Also, use of the hydrogel in medical and cosmetic treatments.

An immuno-therapy for treatment of a tumor is provided. An effective dose of a composition containing a low dose of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle is administered to a tumor. Once the composition has been administered, it is recommended to avoid any means that would cause direct cytotoxic effects to the cancer cells and to normal/healthy tissue. The combination of composition-administered cancer cells with the avoidance of direct cytotoxic effects has been shown to be successful to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells or result in aptosis of the cancer cells. Additional dose(s) can be administered when it is determined that: (i) the tumor starts to grow and/or (ii) the remaining composition falls below a threshold. The immuno-therapy method is a safe, clinically applicable, ready-to-use theranostic approach for cancer patients who are unable to start chemoradiotherapy in a timely manner, i.e. an effective interim or adjunctive treatment for patients.

Nanoparticle-sized magnetic absorption enhancers (MAEs) exhibiting a controlled response to a magnetic field, including a controlled mechanical response and an inductive thermal response. The MAEs have a magnetic material that exhibits inductive thermal response to the magnetic field and is embedded in a coating, such that the MAE conforms to a particular shape, e.g., hemisphere, dome or shell, chosen to produce the controlled mechanical response. A targeting moiety for specifically binding the MAE to a pathogen target is also provided. The MAEs can be bound by a flexible linker to promote the desired mechanical response, which includes interactions between MAEs that are not bound to any pathogen target for the purpose of forming spheres, spherical shells, or generally spherical dimers to contain the thermal energy produced and to thus reduce collateral healthy tissue damage during hyperthermic treatment.