The present invention provides, among other things, compositions and methods relating to detection and/or treatment cancer (e.g., one or more tumors) that expresses Neuropilin 1 (NRP1). The present invention provides methods of treating cancer that include administering a chlorotoxin agent to a subject (e.g., to a subject suffering from or susceptible to the cancer which may, in some embodiments, be a cancer that expresses NRP1). In some embodiments, a chlorotoxin agent for use in accordance with the present invention can be or comprise a chlorotoxin polypeptide and a payload moiety (e.g., as a covalent conjugate).

In one aspect, radioactive nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a radioactive nanoparticle described herein comprises a metal nanoparticle core, an outer metal shell disposed over the metal nanoparticle core, and a metallic radioisotope disposed within the metal nanoparticle core or within the outer metal shell. In some cases, the radioactive nanoparticle has a size of about 30-500 nm in three dimensions. In addition, in some embodiments, the radioactive nanoparticle further comprises an inner metal shell disposed between the metal nanoparticle core and the outer metal shell. The metal nanoparticle core, outer metal shell, and inner metal shell of the radioactive nanoparticle can have various metallic compositions.

Fluorescent quantum defects in a single walled carbon nanotubes can provide single photon emissions which can enable applications in quantum computing and imaging.

The present invention concerns a luminescent particle comprising a nanoparticle of formula

A.sub.1xLn.sub.xVO.sub.4(1y)(PO.sub.4).sub.y (I)

in which A is selected from yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), and mixtures thereof; Ln is selected from europium (Eu), dysprosium (Dy), samarium (Sm), neodymium (Nd), erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), and mixtures thereof; 0<x<1; and 0<y<1; characterized in that the nanoparticle on its surface has tetraalkylammonium cations in an amount such that said nanoparticle has a zeta potential, , of less than or equal to 28 mV in an aqueous medium with a pH5, more particularly with a pH5.5, and with an ionic conductivity >100 S.cm.sup.1.

It also concerns a method for preparing such luminescent particles, a colloidal suspension of these particles, and the use thereof as a diagnostic agent, and also a diagnostic kit comprising such luminescent particles.

The present disclosure provides a cancer-specific or tissue specific targeting theranostic capsule using hepatitis E viral nanoparticle (HEVNP) to enhance the accuracy of cancer diagnosis in endoscopic examinations, as well as treatment, for example hyperthermia treatment, after diagnosis. The present disclosure also provides a method of delivering a theranostic agent using the endoscopic apparatus, as well as a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute the method of the present invention.

Provided are a composition for target-specific photothermal therapy and a method of photothermal therapy using the composition and more particularly, a method of photothermal therapy for selectively killing inflammatory cells by using the composition for target-specific photothermal therapy comprising carbon nanotubes coated with dextran. According to the present invention, the composition for photothermal therapy comprising the carbon nanotubes coated with dextran is absorbed only into desired target cells, i.e., inflammatory cells, and causes thermotherapeutic action through light irradiated from an external light source, while not damaging cells except for inflammatory cells. The method of photothermal therapy using the composition for photothermal therapy has advantages of minimizing side effects and maximizing therapeutic effects.

The present approach generally relates to systems and methods for implementing energy modulated tomographic imaging of nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, a first energy is used to activate probe particles labeling an anatomy or tissue of interest. The probe particles, once activated, emit photons at a different rate and/or spectrum in response to an underlying physiological event, such as action potentials propagating in the labeled anatomy or tissue. The emitted photons may then be detected and used to map or image the occurrence of the physiological event.

A multi-chromophore virus particle is constructed by covalent binding of chromophores and provides super-radiant behavior. A virus-enabled targeted vector is provided for imaging with qualitatively different optical emission properties from state-of-the-art agents. Bright emission is obtained through quantum coherence, which in turn is facilitated by the symmetry of the virus shell. In an exemplary embodiment the targeted vector is used in laser-guided surgery, specifically for the treatment of in brain cancer.

This disclosure relates to targeted protease compositions and uses related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to nanoparticles wherein a targeting molecule is linked to the nanoparticle and wherein a catalytic domain of a protease is linked to the nanoparticle. In certain embodiments, the targeting molecule and the catalytic domain are within a single polypeptide sequence. In certain embodiments, the targeting molecule binds a molecule more highly expressed on cancer cells then non-cancerous cells, and the nanoparticles disclosed herein are used for the treatment of cancer by further attaching an anti-cancer agent to the nanoparticle or incorporating an anticancer agent within the nanoparticle.

The present invention discloses a method for diagnosing and detecting cancer by bioimaging using methylene blue nanoparticle as a contrasting agent. The methylene blue nanoparticle of the present invention for use as a topical cancer targeting phototherapeutic agent is composed of only a material of which the composition is clinically used or derived from human bodies, and thus a nanopreparation in which a barrier to clinical entry is low and the possibility of commercialization is very high, exhibits near-infrared fluorescence along with cancer targeting property, a capacity of generating a singlet oxygen and the like. Therefore, the methylene blue nanoparticle in the present invention is able to detect cancerous cells by emitting visible light in irradiation conditions.