The present invention relates to the use of binding equivalents of monoclonal antibody 31.1, including chimerized and/or humanized versions thereof, antibody fragments as well as competitively binding and co-specific antibodies and antibody fragments, in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Provided herein are novel compositions comprising anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof, including fully human, composite engineered human, humanized, monoclonal, and polyclonal anto-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof, and methods of their use in a variety of therapeutic applications. The compositions comprising the anti-DEspR antibodies and fragments thereof described herein are useful in diagnostic and imaging methods, such as DEspR-targeted molecular imaging of angiogenesis, and for companion diagnostic and/or in vivo-non invasive imaging and/or assessments.

Cancer treatment methods using thermotherapy and/or enhanced immunotherapy are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method comprising the steps of administering a plurality of nanoparticles to target a tumor in a patient, the nanoparticles being coated with an antitumor antibody, cell penetrating peptides (CPPs), and a polymer, and the nanoparticles containing medication and/or gene, and a dye or indicator in the polymer coating, at least some of the nanoparticles attaching to surface antigens of tumor cells so as to form a tumor cell/nanoparticle complex; exciting the nanoparticles using an ultrasound source generating an ultrasonic wave so as to peel off the polymer coating of the nanoparticles, thereby releasing the dye or indicator into the circulation of the patient and the medication and/or gene at the tumor site; and imaging a body region of the patient so as to detect the dye or indicator released into the circulation of the patient.

The present invention discloses methods and materials for delivering a cargo compound into a cancer cell. Delivery of the cargo compound is accomplished by the use of protein transduction domains derived from cupredoxins. The invention further discloses methods for treating cancer and diagnosing cancer.

A method of non-invasively detecting and purging bacterial cells using a modified photoacoustic in vivo flow cytometer device is described herein. In particular, a method of detecting bacterial cells by analyzing photoacoustic pulses emitted in response to laser pulses from a pulsed laser source and/or selectively destroying the detected bacterial cells using a non-linear photothermal response induced by a high-energy laser pulse is described herein.

Provided are photoacoustic imaging contrast agents that include at least one radiation-absorbing component comprising a bacteriochlorin, a metallobacteriochlorin, a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof. Also provided are methods for using the disclosed photoacoustic imaging contrast agents either singly or in combination for generating an image of a volume, optionally a subject or a body part, cell, tissue, or organ thereof. Further provided are compositions and methods for multiplex photoacoustic imaging of a volume, optionally a subject or a body part, cell, tissue, or organ thereof using photoacoustic imaging contrast agents that include a plurality of the presently disclosed bacteriochlorins, metallobacteriochlorins, and/or derivatives thereof simultaneously.

The invention discloses a recombinant protein (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper) PSGL-1-NRL chimeric protein comprising a Selectin Binding domain and a non-covalent dimerization domain, which is a leucine zipper and is more preferably the leucine zipper domain of the human or mouse Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper. The chimeric protein further comprises a covalent dimerization domain with at least one cysteine suitable to form a disulfide bridge with another chimeric protein to form a homodimer. In the chimeric protein, the PSGL-1 domain corresponds to the extracellular region of Human PSGL-1 and is more preferably the selectin binding region of the mature protein. The chimeric protein is correctly post-translationally modified and is efficiently expressed in a mammalian system. It is sulfated, O-linked glycosylated and sialylated and binds P, E and L selectin, allowing in vivo and in vitro targeting for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

An apparatus for use in a minimally invasive prostate cancer detection system, using a fluorophore peptide dye conjugate compound which has at least one absorption wavelength in a range of 380 to 1400 nm, wherein said compound attaches to a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expressed by a prostate cancer cell. A photo-acoustic imaging probe to be inserted in at least one of a rectum, urethra, or placed proximal the prostate. The probe having an emitter to emit a first signal at the prostrate and a prostate cancer, excite the conjugate compound and a receiver to receive a second signal from said conjugate compound, thereby indicating a cancerous region of the prostrate. A processor unit connected to said probe, is configured and operable for receiving and processing said to produce a tomographic representation of the prostrate.

Systems and methods disclosed provide a device that effectively replaces the aPTT test. Chemical sensors are employed that bind to heparin and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal is then used to monitor anti-coagulation therapy, instead of drawing blood, as in the aPTT test. Other quantities of interest can also be measured and monitored.

An ultrasonic probe includes: a piezoelectric element that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave; a housing that accommodates the piezoelectric element; and an acoustic medium liquid that contains an aryl group-containing siloxane compound, has an attenuation factor of ultrasonic waves of 5 MHz of less than 1.5 dB/cm, and fills a space between the piezoelectric element and the housing.