Shielding enzymes are made by modifying the enzyme surface with silica precursors and then depositing silica to a desired thickness while retaining biological activity of the enzyme.

Shielding enzymes are made by modifying the enzyme surface with silica precursors and then depositing silica to a desired thickness while retaining biological activity of the enzyme.

Provided are proteins/peptides. The proteins or peptides comprise a sequence designed by the methods described herein. The proteins and peptides may have one or more trifluoroleucine (L.sub.TF, which may be referred to as TFL or LTF throughout) residues. The proteins may have or contain the following sequence: VX.sub.1X.sub.2X.sub.3X.sub.4X.sub.5X.sub.6X.sub.7X.sub.8X.sub.9X.sub.10X.sub.11X.sub.12X.sub.13X.sub.14X.sub.15X.sub.16X.sub.17X.sub.18X.sub.19X.sub.20X.sub.21X.sub.22X.sub.23X.sub.24X.sub.25X.sub.26X.sub.27X.sub.28X.sub.29X.sub.30X.sub.31X.sub.32X.sub.33X.sub.34X.sub.35X.sub.36X.sub.37 (SEQ ID NO:1), where X.sub.1 is A, E, D, R, H, K, Q, N, or S; X.sub.2 is A, E, N, or Q; X.sub.3 is A, V, L, I, Q, M, or L.sub.T; X.sub.4 is A, E, R, D, H, I, L, T, K, Q, N, or L.sub.T; X.sub.5 is A, F, Q, R, K, H, D, S, or E; X.sub.6 is A, L, I, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.7 is A, K, or E; X.sub.8 is A, K, E, D, R, H, Q, or N; X.sub.9 is A, T, I, L, Q, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.10 is A, L, I, or LT; X.sub.11 is A, E, D, H, P, I, L, K, Y, N, Q, R, or LT; X.sub.12 is A, Q, H, E, D, K, R, or N; X.sub.13 is A, M, I, L, Q, T, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.14 is A, L, D, E, K, I, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.15 is A, E, D, H, Y, I, L, R, K, Q, N, or Lu; X.sub.16 is A, E, or Q; X.sub.17 is A, L, M, I, V, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.18 is A, K, E, D, K, R, H, N, or Q; X.sub.19 is A, N, D, K, R, H, Q, or E; X.sub.20 is A, L, T, I, M, R, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.21 is A, N, or Q; X.sub.22 is K, A, E, I, L, M, R, H, D, Q, N, S, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.23 is A, Q, N, I, L, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.24 is A, L, I, M, T, or LT; X.sub.25 is A, H, Q, R, K, D, N, Y, I, E, L, T, or LT; X.sub.26 is A, D, E, R, K, Q, H, N, or T; X.sub.27 is A, V, I, Q, L, T, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.28 is A, R, E, D, K, H, N, Q, or T; X.sub.29 is A, H, E, R, D, K, I, L, N, Q, T, Y, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.30 is L, A, D, K, I, N, Q, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.31 is A, L, Q, I, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.32 is E, D, K, H, N, Q, A, L, R, I, Y, or L.sub.TF; X.sub.33 is A, N, Q, D, E, H, K, R, or S; X.sub.34 is Q, I, L, A, M, or LT; X.sub.35 is S, A, P, or Q; X.sub.36 is A, K, T, D, R, H, N, Q, or E; X.sub.37 is A, L, I, K, D, N, Q, R, or L.sub.TF; where at least one of X.sub.3, X.sub.4, X.sub.6, X.sub.9, X.sub.10, X.sub.11, X.sub.13, X.sub.14, X.sub.15, X.sub.16, X.sub.17, X.sub.20, X.sub.22, X.sub.23, X.sub.24, X.sub.25, X.sub.27, X.sub.29, X.sub.30, X.sub.31, X.sub.32, X.sub.34, X.sub.37 or any L is replaced with L.sub.TF. The proteins and peptides may have desirable self-assembling properties such that they form supramolecular structures (e.g., fibers or fibrils). The supramolecular structures may further gelate water such that a hydrogel is formed. The fibers and/or gels may be used to delive

The present invention provides an in vivo imaging method that facilitates the diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at an early stage. Early diagnosis is particularly advantageous as a tool to select more aggressive therapy, to estimate the success rate for visualizing ALL at the time of diagnosis.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for echogenically enhancing a target site within a patient during a medical procedure. The system includes an imaging system having a display for viewing the target site, a plurality of metallic particles configured to selectively target and bind to one or more locations at the target site, and a delivery mechanism for delivering the plurality of metallic particles into the patient towards the target site. As such, the method includes delivering, via the delivery mechanism, the plurality of metallic particles into the patient and allowing the metallic particles to selectively target and bind to the target site. The method also includes viewing, via a display of an imaging system, the target site with the plurality of metallic particles bound thereto.

The present invention provides nanocarrier compositions, for example, copper sulfide perfluorocarbon nanocarrier compositions, and methods of making the same. The compositions are useful for imaging, diagnostics, therapy and for other uses.

A compound comprising an oligomer formed from a biocompatible multifunctional carboxylic acid comprising a hydroxyl group and at least one carboxylic acid, an polyol (e.g., an aliphatic diol), and a linker. One or more conductive oligomers (e.g., polyanilines) are covalently bonded to the oligomer. The compounds can have various forms (e.g., articles of manufacture, films, scaffolds, and the like). The compounds have various uses. For example, the compounds are used in photoacoustic imaging methods.

A method of therapy for a tumor or other pathology by administering a combination of thermotherapy, immunotherapy, and vaccination optionally combined with gene delivery. The combination therapy beneficially treats the tumor and prevents tumor recurrence, either locally or at a different site, by boosting the patient's immune response both at the time or original therapy and/or for later therapy. With respect to gene delivery, the inventive method may be used in cancer therapy, but is not limited to such use; it will be appreciated that the inventive method may be used for gene delivery in general. The controlled and precise application of thermal energy enhances gene transfer to any cell, whether the cell is a neoplastic cell, a pre-neoplastic cell, or a normal cell.

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.

A method of preparing biocompatible and stable gold nanoparticles comprises preparing at least one flavonoid-rich plant extract, and mixing at least one of the plant extracts with an aqueous solution of at least one gold salt. The flavonoid-rich plant extract is an extract of Hubertia ambavilla or Hypericum lanceolatum. The gold nanoparticles may be used for medical and/or cosmetic purposes.