Provided herein are synthetic scaffolds engineered to function as a pre-metastatic niche to detect metastasis. In particular, synthetic scaffolds described herein provide detection of the earliest events in metastasis, thereby enabling treatment of metastasis before the disease burden increases.

Closed cavity adjustable sensor mount systems and methods are disclosed. The sensor mount systems include a sealed, closed cavity enclosing a sensor and forming a closed cavity sensor assembly. The closed cavity sensor assembly may be tilted and/or translated relative to a platform in order to adjust the orientation of the sensor to align it with an imaging optical axis. Following alignment, the closed cavity sensor assembly may be permanently or reversibly fixed in place. The closed cavity adjustable sensor mount systems may be part of medical imaging systems such as endoscopic imaging systems and/or open field imaging systems.

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are useful as near-infrared fluorescence probes, wherein the compounds include i) a ligand that binds to the active site of carbonic anhydrase, ii) a dye molecule, and iii) a linker molecule that comprises an amino acid, amide, ureido, or polyethylene glycol derivative thereof. The disclosure further describes methods and compositions for making and using the compounds, methods incorporating the compounds, and kits incorporating the compounds.

A dye-drug conjugate for preventing, treating, or imaging cancer having the following structure:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, alkyl, alkyl-sulphonate, alkylcarboxylic, alkylamino, aryl, —SO.sub.3H, —PO.sub.3H, —OH, —NH.sub.2, and -halogen; wherein Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylsulphonate, alkylcarboxylic, alkylamino, ω-alkylaminium, ω-alkynyl, PEGyl, PEGylcarboxylate, ω-PEGylaminium, ω-acyl-NH, ω-acyl-lysinyl-, ω-acyl-triazole, ω-PEGylcarboxyl-NH—, ω-PEGylcarboxyl-lysinyl, and ω-PEGylcarboxyl-triazole; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, halogen, CN, Me, NH.sub.2, SH and OH; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently a hydrogen, a therapeutic agent, or an imaging moiety, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of a platinum-based therapeutic agent, a small molecule therapeutic agent, a peptide, a protein, a polymer, an siRNA, a microRNA, and a nanoparticle, wherein the imaging is a radio-isotope selected from the group consisting of F18, I-125, I-124 I-123, I-131, and small molecule labeled with any of these isotopes, or wherein the imaging moiety is a chelator-complexed radioactive isotope, wherein the radioactive isotope is selected from the group consisting of Cu-64, In-111, Tc-99m, Ga-68, Lu-177, Zo-89, Th-227 and Gd-157.

A theranostic composition and method for determining the cell-specific potency of drugs is provided. Further, compositions and methods useful for studying the therapeutic profile of one or more drugs within a cell microenvironment, including but not limited to a tumor, are provided.

A tumor-targeting multi-mode imaging and analyzing method for living body based on gold nanoclusters can include incubating the relevant cells with chloroauric acid and the salt solution thereof with certain concentration under physiological conditions, thereby generating gold nanoclusters. After, real-time non-invasive fluorescence imaging, Raman imaging and/or ultrasonic imaging can be used to image the tumor tissue.

Compositions and methods for modifying one or more biologic targets are provided. Suitable targets include cells, DNA, proteins, enzymes, and/or a subject in need thereof. The compositions may exist as a monomer or multimer and are active in a biologic environment with enhanced activity in hypoxic environments and, thus, exhibit improved specificity for hypoxic biologic targets (e.g., tumorigenic cells and those undergoing uncontrolled cell growth). A composition typically comprises a complex with an overall charge of 2+ or greater having at least one ruthenium atom attached to a redox active ligand. The redox active ligand helps maintain separation of more than one ruthenium atom. Suitable compositions may further include a terminal ligand comprising a heterocyclic aromatic compound. When provided to a biologic target, the composition modifies the biologic target and no additional compounds need be provided. Suitable compositions are typically catalytic and regenerative in the presence of a reducing agent.

A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate in a mammalian kidney comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the blood stream of a mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the health of the subject's kidney. This method measures volume of plasma distribution based on a fluorescence of a marker molecule relative to a fluorescence of a reporter molecule.

This disclosure relates to luciferin amides of formula (I) shown below: ##STR00001##
Each variable in formula (I) is defined in the specification. These compounds can be used to detect fatty acid amide hydrolase activities in vitro, in live cells, or in vivo.

An optical spectroscopy probe for providing optical spectroscopy guidance of a mechanical biopsy procedure, and a tissue biopsy device including an optical spectroscopy probe. The optical spectroscopy probe is positionable in a lumen of a mechanical biopsy device. The probe may enable optical spectroscopy guidance in biopsy procedures, include brain biopsy procedures.