The invention is the production of magnetosome-like structures in cells. The invention provides in vitro and in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic methods using eukaryotic cells expressing magnetosome-like structures that act as contrast agents.

Novel, non-toxic cobalt-based contrast and imaging agents for use in enhanced medical imaging modalities and processes are described, as well the manufacture of markers containing such contrast agents is described, and uses for such imaging markers and contrast agents in a variety of therapeutic applications and devices.

Nanoparticles for use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents are described. The nanoparticles are made up of a polymeric support and a manganese-oxo or manganses-iron-oxo cluster having magnetic properties suitable of a contrast agent. The manganese-oxo clusters may be Mn-12 clusters, which have known characteristics of a single molecule magnet. The polymer support may form a core particle which is coated by the clusters, or the clusters may be dispersed within the polymeric agent.

Iron oxide complexes, pharmacological compositions and unit dosage thereof, and methods for their administration, of the type employing an iron oxide complex with a polyol, are disclosed. The pharmacological compositions employ a polysaccharide iron oxide complex, wherein the polysaccharide is a modified polyol such as a carboxyalkylated reduced dextran. The complex is stable to terminal sterilization by autoclaving. The compositions are suitable for parenteral administration to a subject for the treatment of iron deficiencies or as MRI contrast agent. The complex is substantially immunosilent, provide minimal anaphylaxis and undergo minimal dissolution in vivo. The pharmacological compositions of the complex contain minimal free iron which can be quantified by a variety of methods.

The invention relates to water-soluble nanoparticles and methods for making such nanoparticles. Specifically, the invention relates to dendrimerization to enhance the solubility of nanoparticles.

Disclosed herein are polymer-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles and methods of their manufacture and use. The nanoparticles are coated with a copolymer of poly(maleic anhydride alt-H2CCHR1)-polyethylene glycol (PMAR-PEG), wherein R1 is a hydrophobic moiety. The molecular weights of the PMAR and PEG portions of the copolymer, as well as the core diameter of the nanoparticles are selected in order to produce optimal performance for specific applications. Representative applications of the nanoparticles include magnetic particle imaging, magnetic sentinel lymph node biopsy, and magnetic fluid hyperthermia. The disclosed nanoparticles are tools for these methods that provide previously unachieved levels of stability (e.g., via reduced agglomeration) and customizability (e.g., tuned blood circulation half-life in vivo).

A computer-implemented method for image-guided delivery of a nanoparticle mixture to a target tumor located in a region of interest includes selecting a non-hypoxic delivery location within the region of interest for delivery of a non-bacteria-associated nanoparticle component included in the nanoparticle mixture and selecting a hypoxic delivery location within the region of interest for delivery of a bacteria-associated nanoparticle component included in the nanoparticle mixture. An image-guided delivery and monitoring process may then be performed. During this process intra-operative images of the region of interest are continually acquired and used to guide placement of a device into the non-hypoxic delivery location, monitor delivery of the non-bacteria-associated nanoparticle component included in the nanoparticle mixture at the non-hypoxic delivery location, guide placement of the device into the hypoxic delivery location, and monitor delivery of the bacteria-associated nanoparticle component included in the nanoparticle mixture at the hypoxic delivery location.

Provided are cubic-phase (-phase) erbium (Er)-doped near-infrared-II (NIR-II)-emitting nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticles are near-infrared-IIb (NIR-IIb)-emitting nanoparticles. Also provided are nanoparticles having disposed thereon a layer-by-layer crosslinked polymeric hydrophilic biocompatible coating. Also provided are compositions comprising the nanoparticles of the present disclosure. Methods of using the nanoparticles, e.g., for in vivo imaging, are also provided.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for diagnostic imaging. The composition comprises micelles having an outer shell comprising one or more polymer-flavonoid conjugates, optionally an inner shell comprising one or more flavonoid oligomer, and a diagnostic imaging agent encapsulated within the shells. The present invention also provides methods for performing diagnostic imaging using the compositions.

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.