The present invention relates to near-infrared-absorbing dye-based composite particles which exhibit a photothermal effect and/or photoacoustic signal upon photoirradiation, a preparation method thereof, and a use thereof. The near-infrared-absorbing composite particles comprise: a water-insoluble salt of a near-infrared-absorbing dye, which comprises anions of the near-infrared-absorbing dye and metal cations capable of forming a precipitation product with the anions of the near-infrared-absorbing dye; and particles of a polymeric surfactant, in which a water-insoluble salt of the near-infrared-absorbing dye is supported in the hydrophobic part of the polymeric surfactant.

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.

Acoustically responsive stabilized microbubbles formulated with a phospholipid monolayer shell, an encapsulated bioactive gas, and an encapsulated perfluorocarbon gas of the formula C.sub.xF.sub.y in a volume ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10, wherein X is greater than or equal to 3, are disclosed. Also provided are methods for promoting localized vasodilation in a patient in need thereof by delivering a microbubble comprising a phospholipid monolayer shell and an encapsulated bioactive gas locally to a target diseased section of the patient's vasculature; and releasing the bioactive gas at the target diseased section, wherein the microbubble comprises the bioactive gas in a ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10 by volume with a perfluorocarbon gas.

Compositions and methods for molecular imaging of selectins are disclosed. Specifically, compositions comprising medical imaging contrast-producing agents associated with the extracellular domain of TIM-1 as a targeting ligand for use in molecular imaging of selectins are disclosed. Also, methods of using the extracellular domain of TIM-1 as a ligand for achieving specific targeting to selectins as therapeutic drug delivery vehicles is also disclosed.

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.

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.

The present subject matter provides compounds, compositions, and methods for identifying, monitoring, treating, and removing diseased tissue. Compounds, compositions, and methods for identifying, monitoring, and detecting circulating fluids such as blood are also provided.

The present disclosure relates to a novel nano-droplet composition comprising a fluorocarbon core and a polymeric shell, and the method of using and making the novel nano-droplet composition. The fluorocarbon core and the polymeric shell of the novel nano-droplet form a micelle with a size range of 10-1000 nm. The fluorocarbon core comprises at least one fluorocarbon compound with a formula of C.sub.nF.sub.2n+2 and n is 5-10. The fluorocarbon compound is substantial in liquid form. And the nano-droplet composition has a temperature profile such that the nano-droplet composition has a temperature range of 20-60 C. throughout a temperature modulation process, and has a temperature of about 37 C. prior to administration to a human, animal, biological cell, or tissue subject.

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.

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.