Processes and compositions are described for preparing new, colloidally stable, coated nanomagnetic particles useful for both in-vitro and in-vivo biomedical applications, including cell targeting and capturing cells, microorganisms, and cellular organelles or entities such as exosomes. These nanomagnetic particles can also be used as imaging contrast agents due to their small size and high magnetic moment. The nanomagnetic particles include a series of sequentially added, stabilizing surface coatings rendered onto nano-sized magnetic crystal clusters (e.g., magnetite particles) to impart colloidal stability in complex biological samples with minimal leaching of the coating materials, high binding capacity, and low non-specific binding. Another benefit of this invention is the ability to utilize both external and internal magnetic field-generating separation devices to effect separation of the magnetic nanoparticles.

Processes and compositions are described for preparing new, colloidally stable, coated nanomagnetic particles useful for both in-vitro and in-vivo biomedical applications, including cell targeting and capturing cells, microorganisms, and cellular organelles or entities such as exosomes. These nanomagnetic particles can also be used as imaging contrast agents due to their small size and high magnetic moment. The nanomagnetic particles include a series of sequentially added, stabilizing surface coatings rendered onto nano-sized magnetic crystal clusters (e.g., magnetite particles) to impart colloidal stability in complex biological samples with minimal leaching of the coating materials, high binding capacity, and low non-specific binding. Another benefit of this invention is the ability to utilize both external and internal magnetic field-generating separation devices to effect separation of the magnetic nanoparticles.

Disclosed herein are biomarkers associated with a disease state such as lung cancer, and methods of discovering or using biomarkers. Also disclosed herein are classifiers built on biomarkers and methods of detecting the disease state in samples from subjects. The method may include obtaining a data set that includes protein information from a biofluid sample, and may involve using a classifier to identify the sample as indicative of a healthy state, a disease state, or a comorbidity.

Disclosed herein are biomarkers associated with a disease state such as lung cancer, and methods of discovering or using biomarkers. Also disclosed herein are classifiers built on biomarkers and methods of detecting the disease state in samples from subjects. The method may include obtaining a data set that includes protein information from a biofluid sample, and may involve using a classifier to identify the sample as indicative of a healthy state, a disease state, or a comorbidity.

Processes and compositions are described for preparing new, colloidally stable, coated nanomagnetic particles useful for both in-vitro and in-vivo biomedical applications, including cell targeting and capturing cells, microorganisms, and cellular organelles or entities such as exosomes. These nanomagnetic particles can also be used as imaging contrast agents due to their small size and high magnetic moment. The nanomagnetic particles include a series of sequentially added, stabilizing surface coatings rendered onto nano-sized magnetic crystal clusters (e.g., magnetite particles) to impart colloidal stability in complex biological samples with minimal leaching of the coating materials, high binding capacity, and low non-specific binding. Another benefit of this invention is the ability to utilize both external and internal magnetic field-generating separation devices to effect separation of the magnetic nanoparticles.

Processes and compositions are described for preparing new, colloidally stable, coated nanomagnetic particles useful for both in-vitro and in-vivo biomedical applications, including cell targeting and capturing cells, microorganisms, and cellular organelles or entities such as exosomes. These nanomagnetic particles can also be used as imaging contrast agents due to their small size and high magnetic moment. The nanomagnetic particles include a series of sequentially added, stabilizing surface coatings rendered onto nano-sized magnetic crystal clusters (e.g., magnetite particles) to impart colloidal stability in complex biological samples with minimal leaching of the coating materials, high binding capacity, and low non-specific binding. Another benefit of this invention is the ability to utilize both external and internal magnetic field-generating separation devices to effect separation of the magnetic nanoparticles.

The present invention provides a fluorescent silica-based nanoparticle that allows for precise detection, characterization, monitoring and treatment of a disease such as cancer. The nanoparticle has a range of diameters including between about 0.1 nm and about 100 nm, between about 0.5 nm and about 50 nm, between about 1 nm and about 25 nm, between about 1 nm and about 15 nm, or between about 1 nm and about 8 nm. The nanoparticle has a fluorescent compound positioned within the nanoparticle, and has greater brightness and fluorescent quantum yield than the free fluorescent compound. The nanoparticle also exhibits high biostability and biocompatibility. To facilitate efficient urinary excretion of the nanoparticle, it may be coated with an organic polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The small size of the nanoparticle, the silica base and the organic polymer coating minimizes the toxicity of the nanoparticle when administered in vivo. In order to target a specific cell type, the nanoparticle may further be conjugated to a ligand, which is capable of binding to a cellular component associated with the specific cell type, such as a tumor marker. In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent may be attached to the nanoparticle. To permit the nanoparticle to be detectable by not only optical fluorescence imaging, but also other imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computerized tomography (CT), bioluminescence imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radionuclides/radiometals or paramagnetic ions may be conjugated to the nanoparticle.

The present invention provides a fluorescent silica-based nanoparticle that allows for precise detection, characterization, monitoring and treatment of a disease such as cancer. The nanoparticle has a range of diameters including between about 0.1 nm and about 100 nm, between about 0.5 nm and about 50 nm, between about 1 nm and about 25 nm, between about 1 nm and about 15 nm, or between about 1 nm and about 8 nm. The nanoparticle has a fluorescent compound positioned within the nanoparticle, and has greater brightness and fluorescent quantum yield than the free fluorescent compound. The nanoparticle also exhibits high biostability and biocompatibility. To facilitate efficient urinary excretion of the nanoparticle, it may be coated with an organic polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The small size of the nanoparticle, the silica base and the organic polymer coating minimizes the toxicity of the nanoparticle when administered in vivo. In order to target a specific cell type, the nanoparticle may further be conjugated to a ligand, which is capable of binding to a cellular component associated with the specific cell type, such as a tumor marker. In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent may be attached to the nanoparticle. To permit the nanoparticle to be detectable by not only optical fluorescence imaging, but also other imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computerized tomography (CT), bioluminescence imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radionuclides/radiometals or paramagnetic ions may be conjugated to the nanoparticle.

Provided are: a composite of a silicate-based base material and a rare-earth compound, having high light-emitting intensity and capable of being used as light-emitting particles, light-emitting nanoparticle including the same, a cell detection method, a method for treating an animal, a medical device, and a method for producing the composite of a silicate-based base material and a rare-earth compound. This composite of a silicate-based base material and a rare-earth compound includes elemental silicon (Si) and elemental oxygen (O), the rare-earth compound comprising at least one selected from a chloride of a rare-earth element and a fluoride of a rare-earth element, the silicate-based base material having a solid .sup.29Si-NMR spectrum satisfying Q.sub.4/Q.sub.3 of 1.6 to 3.9 where Q.sub.4 represents a peak area derived from Si(OSi)4 and Q.sub.3 represents a peak area derived from HO—Si(OSi).sub.3.

The invention relates to a process for preparation of an unpassivated cantilever comprising the steps of: 1) providing a silicon cantilever sensor having two sides; 2) coating one side of the cantilever with at least a gold layer; and 3) functionalizing both sides of the cantilever with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a probe molecule by incubating the cantilever in a solution having a concentration of the probe molecule of between 1 to 1000 μM.

The invention also relates to an unpassivated cantilever sensor comprising a silicon layer coated on one side with a coating comprising Au and being uncoated or unpassivated on the opposite side, wherein the Au coated surface comprises a self-assembled monolayer of a probe molecule and wherein the surface area occupied per probe molecule is in the range 0.4-1.5 nm.sup.2.