A method for evaluating treatment outcome in a patient having a genetic predisposition for a malignant neoplasm before clinical manifestation of the neoplasm can be seen radiographically. The method permits visualization of any tumor, whether located externally on a patient's body or located internally in the body, and as small as 2 mm in diameter, using a biomarker. The method uses biomarkers conjugated with nanoparticles which include but are not limited to quantum dots, with the conjugated form collectively termed functionalized nanoparticles, that are heated under specified conditions to produce a photoacoustic signal that is then visualized to locate and/or treat the tumor.

There is provided a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging, the contrast agent exhibiting high tumor accumulation and high photoacoustic signal intensity even when time has passed since administration. A contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging comprises a complex including albumin covalently bound to an organic dye that absorbs light in the near-infrared wavelength region.

Compositions useful for target detection, imaging and treatment, as well as methods of production and use thereof, are disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to CX3CR1-targeting imaging agents and their use in treatment and diagnosis of diseases. Single domain CX3CR1-targeting polypeptides linked to detection labels and their use in in vivo imaging of atherosclerotic plaques are described. The CX3CR1-targeting imaging agents are useful in the treatment and diagnosis of CX3CR1-mediated diseases including atherosclerosis.

Compounds used as labels with properties comparable to known fluorescent compounds. The compounds can be conjugated to proteins and nucleic acids for biological imaging and analysis. Synthesis of the compounds, formation and use of the conjugated compounds, and specific non-limiting examples of each are provided.

The method comprises: a) receiving a plurality of imaging signals of the object over a period of time; b) measuring the signal intensity in each of the plurality of imaging signals corresponding to a point on the object; and c) curve fitting the measured signal intensity of the point on the object to a bi-exponential function comprising a first and a second exponential term, the first exponential term representing the decrease in concentration of the contrast agent which is free over time and the second exponential term representing a decrease in concentration of the contrast agent which is retained on the object over time.

The present invention provides polypeptides, peptide dimer, and multimeric complexes comprising at least one binding moiety for KDR or VEGF/KDR complex, which have a variety of uses wherever treating, detecting, isolating or localizing angiogenesis is advantageous. Particularly disclosed are synthetic, isolated polypeptides capable of binding KDR or VEGF/KDR complex with high affinity (e.g., having a K.sub.D<1 M), and dimer and multimeric constructs comprising these polypeptides.

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.

The present invention provides a compound which exhibits a high degree of accumulation into a tumor even when some extent of time has passed after performing administration and which facilitates an increase in the intensity of photoacoustic signal produced by the tumor. A compound produced by bonding of a polyethylene glycol and a specific cyanine based compound.

Provided are photoacoustic imaging contrast agents that include at least one radiation-absorbing component comprising a copper-complexed and/or manganese-complexed chlorin and/or bacteriochlorin and/or 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 copper-complexed and/or manganese-complexed chlorins and/or bacteriochlorins and/or derivatives thereof simultaneously.