This invention relates to glucose-sensitive albumin-binding diboron conjugates. More particularly the invention provides novel diboron compounds, and in particular diboronate or diboroxole compounds, useful as intermediate compounds for the synthesis of diboron conjugates. The diboron compounds are characterized by formula (I), which is: R1-XR2, and wherein X is a mono- to multiatomic linker and where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be identical or different, each represents a group of Formula (11a) or (IIb) Also described are diboron conjugates represented by the general Formula (I), which is: R1-XR2, in which either the moeities R1 or R2 or X carry a drug that is covalently attached to the diboron compound.

Described herein are micro-coil hyperpolarized NMR systems and methods for measuring metabolic flux in living and non-living samples. Such systems can perform high throughput measurements (with multiple coils) of metabolic flux without destroying the material, making it useful to analyze tumor biopsies, cancer stem cells, and the like. In certain embodiments, a hyperpolarized micromagnetic resonance spectrometer (HMRS), described herein, is used to achieve real-time, significantly more sensitive (e.g., 10.sup.3-fold more sensitive) metabolic analyses of live cells or non-living samples. In this platform, a suspension mixed with hyperpolarized metabolites is loaded into a miniaturized detection coil (e.g., about 2 L), where the flux analysis can be completed within a minute without significant changes in viability. The sensitive and rapid analytical capability of the provided systems enables rapid assessment of metabolic changes by a given drug, which may direct therapeutic choices in patients.

A magnetic resonance device for monitoring growth of tissue in one or more bioreactors. The device can include a first magnet and a second magnet that can form a uniform magnetic field of desired strength around at least one sample of effluent from at least one bioreactor. At the command of a controller, an RF signal can illuminate the at least one magnetized sample, and sensors can detect at least one echo signal from the at least one magnetized sample. The controller can characterize the at least one sample based on the at least one echo signal. A resonator can shape the at least one echo signal.

Methods of and systems for making a hyperpolarized fluid are provided, which include exposing a fluid and parahydrogen to a catalyst. The hyperpolarized fluid can be introduced to a subject. The hyperpolarized fluid can be included in methods of imaging a subject. Also provided are methods that use the hyperpolarized fluids for detecting protein ligand interactions and for enhancing the NMR signals of biopolymers having chemically exchangeable protons.

An interfacial process for preparing a poly(aliphatic ester-carbonate) includes providing an initial polymerization reaction mixture comprising an aliphatic C6-20 dicarboxylic acid, a bisphenol, an alkali hydroxide, and optionally a catalyst in a solvent system comprising water and an immiscible organic solvent, adding an initial portion of a carbonyl dihalide over a first time period while maintaining the reaction at a first pH from 7 to 8; and adding a second portion of the carbonyl dihalide over a second, subsequent time period while maintaining the reaction pH at a second pH from 9 to 12, to provide a product polymerization mixture, wherein the amount of alkali hydroxide in the initial polymerization reaction mixture is effective to increase the fraction of the first time period at a measured pH of 7 to 8 compared to the same reaction mixture with a higher amount of alkali hydroxide in the initial polymerization mixture.

A quartz crystal microbalance coated with functionalized nanoparticles used to detect molecule-nanoparticle interactions to assist with characterization of difficult to predict molecule-nanoparticle interactions for novel ligand chemistries and, particularly, mixed ligand nanoparticles exhibiting different ligand morphologies, in order to quantify nanoparticle-molecule interactions independently from more complex solvation requirements.

Provided herein are broad-spectrum G-Protein coupled receptor (GPCR) binding agents, detectable/isolatable compounds comprising such binding agents (e.g., broad-spectrum GPCR binding agents linked to a functional element and/or solid surface), and methods of use thereof for the detection/isolation of GPCRs.

A magnetic resonance device for monitoring growth of tissue in one or more bioreactors. The device can include a first magnet and a second magnet that can form a uniform magnetic field of desired strength around at least one sample of effluent from at least one bioreactor. At the command of a controller, an RF signal can illuminate the at least one magnetized sample, and sensors can detect at least one echo signal from the at least one magnetized sample. The controller can characterize the at least one sample based on the at least one echo signal. A resonator can shape the at least one echo signal.

A method of predicting the responsiveness of a patient to a pharmaceutical drug by measuring metabolites in a biological sample from the patient is disclosed. Specific drug metabolites in blood from breast cancer patients are analyzed using NMR spectroscopy whereby responsiveness of the human cancer patients before, during and after treatment with a cancer drug is assessed by measuring the change in clinical outcomes. Data obtained is used to identify particular NMR resonances that are strongly correlated with whether the patient is responsive or resistant to each drug. As such, models for predicting the responsiveness of a patient to each drug based on metabolites from the patient are provided.

A method of determining patient responsiveness to a drug by the use of spectroscopy to obtain patient metabolite data and relating that data to data obtained from a statistically significant group of patients taking the same drug in order to obtain a result indicating responsiveness of a particular patient to treatment with a particular drug.