Disclosed is a conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe, including a fluorescent conjugated polymer, a surface ligand, a target molecule, a near-infrared fluorescent dye and optionally a gadolinium-containing magnetic resonance contrast agent. This application also discloses a method for preparing the conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe, including: adding raw materials to an organic solvent followed by ultrasonication to obtain a mixture; and adding the mixture to ultrapure water and continuously ultrasonicating the reaction mixture. The conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe can be applied in a combined molecular imaging technique of near infrared fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging and magnetic resonance imaging to effectively recognize metastatic lymph nodes and normal lymph nodes, and it can be retained in the metastatic lymph nodes for a long time, meeting the requirements for long-term observation. Moreover, the near-infrared fluorescent conjugated polymer-based nanoprobe can generate reactive oxygen under irradiation, which is suitable for the photodynamic treatment of tumors.

Targeted nanoparticles are provided which facilitate detection of and therapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The nanoparticles may be used to target other forms of cancer as well, such as pancreatic, colorectal, and breast. The nanoparticles may provide optical contrast for pre-operative diagnostic imaging and intraoperative navigation using surface-enhanced Raman scattering techniques. Moreover, the nanoparticles may inhibit tumoral growth, block tumoral blood flow, and decrease metastatic spread of GBM. The nanoparticles may further reduce the inflammatory response, which is essential to the growth of the glioma and can be harmful to the patient. The nanoparticle may comprise a biologically inert substance, a biocompatible polymer, an optical-acoustic reporter, and a glioblastoma specific receptor ligand conjugated to the biocompatible polymer. For instance, in some embodiments, the biologically inert substance may be a gold or silica nanoshell, the biocompatible polymer may be polyethylene glycol, the optical-acoustic reporter may be prussian blue, and the glioblastoma specific receptor ligand may be aprepitant.

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 present invention is directed to a composition comprising at least one fibronectin binding polypeptide (FnBP) linked to at least one diagnostic or therapeutic agent, a nucleic acid encoding a fusion polypeptide comprising at least one fibronectin binding polypeptide (FnBP) linked to at least one diagnostic or therapeutic polypeptide agent as well as a corresponding recombinant vector and host cell comprising such a nucleic acid and preferably expressing said fusion polypeptide. The invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising at least one fibronectin binding polypeptide (FnBP), at least one diagnostic or therapeutic agent, and optionally one or more chemical agents for linking the fibronectin binding polypeptide (FnBP) to the diagnostic or therapeutic agent. In addition, the present invention intends said composition, nucleic acid, vector, host cell and kit for use in the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a disease, preferably a disease associated with abnormal fibronectin accumulation such as cancer, fibrosis or immune diseases.

Gas vesicles, protein variants and related compositions methods and systems for singleplexed and/or multiplexed ultrasound imaging of a target site in which a gas vesicle provides contrast for the imaging which is modifiable by application of a selectable acoustic collapse pressure value of the gas vesicle.

A theranostic agent can be used in both photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and photothermal therapy (PTT) applications. The theranostic agent can include a small molecule, organic compound with absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) interrogation window (700-900 nm). The compound can be a biocompatible organic nanoparticle (ONP). The theranostic agent can be effectively used in PAI and PAI-guided PTT applications. The theranostic agent can be administered to a patient to locate a tumor site in the patient using in vivo imaging techniques. Once the tumor site has been determined, the tumor site can be irradiated with near-infrared light to stop or inhibit the growth of the tumor.

The present application provides an agent comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for a kallikrein protein (for example, PSA or hK2) for use in the treatment of prostate cancer, and a method for the treatment of prostate cancer in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent comprising or consisting of a binding moiety with specificity for a kallikrein protein to the patient.

Disclosed are gas-generating nanoparticles comprising fine-grained calcium carbonate crystals and a biocompatible polymer, the fine-grained calcium carbonate crystals being encapsulated inside the biocompatible polymer, and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases can be effectively performed at the same time by using a composition of the present disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for labeled maltotriose probes, methods of making labeled probes, pharmaceutical compositions including labeled probes, methods of using labeled probes, methods of diagnosing, localizing, monitoring, and/or assessing bacterial infections, using labeled probes, kits for diagnosing, localizing, monitoring, and/or assessing bacterial infections, using labeled probes, and the like.

The invention described herein relates to colloidal particles useful for photoacoustic imaging. The particles comprise a photoacoustic imaging agent with an absorbance maximum or plateau in the range of wavelengths 700-1100 nm. The imaging agent also displays low optical absorbance at some wavelength in the range 700-1100 nm. This combination of high and low optical absorbance enables background subtraction in photoacoustic imaging applications. The imaging agent is an organic compound having low aqueous solubility so that it is stably encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of the particle. The particle is stabilized by a polymeric surface coating, and the polymeric stabilizing layer on the surface of the particle may contain targeting ligands for targeted diagnostics or therapeutic delivery. The particle core may also contain therapeutic agents or other imaging agents.