Disclosed is CT or MR contrast agent which comprises a base or carrier scaffold formed of a polyhydroxol compound having a linker to which a Gd-DOTA is covalently bonded. Also disclosed is a method of screening a patient for colon cancer using a CT or MR contrast, which method comprises administering to a patient undergoing screening a compound as above described.

The invention relates to compounds that interact with heparanase, uses in heparanase screening, uses in in vitro and in vivo imaging (e g , positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)), methods of synthesis, methods of modulating heparanase activity, and methods of treating disease and disorders associated with heparanase. The compounds of the invention are also useful in treating one or more diseases or disorders associated with the function of heparanase.

The invention discloses a recombinant protein (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper) PSGL-1-NRL chimeric protein comprising a Selectin Binding domain and a non-covalent dimerization domain, which is a leucine zipper and is more preferably the leucine zipper domain of the human or mouse Neural Retina-specific Leucine Zipper. The chimeric protein further comprises a covalent dimerization domain with at least one cysteine suitable to form a disulfide bridge with another chimeric protein to form a homodimer. In the chimeric protein, the PSGL-1 domain corresponds to the extracellular region of Human PSGL-1 and is more preferably the selectin binding region of the mature protein. The chimeric protein is correctly post-translationally modified and is efficiently expressed in a mammalian system. It is sulfated, O-linked glycosylated and sialylated and binds P, E and L selectin, allowing in vivo and in vitro targeting for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

Provided are novel human copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, also known as superoxide dismutase 1 or SOD1, specific antibodies as well as fragments, derivatives and variants thereof as well as methods related thereto. Assays, kits, and solid supports related to antibodies specific for SOD1 are also disclosed. The antibody, immunoglobulin chain(s), as well as binding fragments, derivatives and variants thereof can be used in pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions for SOD1 targeted immunotherapy and diagnosis, respectively.

Provided herein are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents comprising a compound having a structure represented by: Y—X—Z, wherein, X is: Fe(III) or Mn(II), and Y and Z are each independently selected from pyrophosphate and bisphosphonate (e.g., 1-hydroxybisphosphonate), or a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrate and/or salt thereof. Methods of use of the MRI contrast agent are also provided.

Described are compositions and methods of manufacturing extracellular vesicles comprising sticky imaging particles. In one aspect, methods include associating a sticky element to imaging particles forming sticky imaging particles. The sticky imaging particles are associated with extracellular vesicles (EV) to form a mixture comprising extracellular vesicles (EV) that comprise sticky imaging particles. The method also include separating the sticky imaging particles associated with EVs from sticky imaging particle that are not associated with EVs.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy (RT) is a powerful treatment where precision and accuracy is crucial. Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) facilitates more accurate position verification, correcting for anatomic changes related to internal organ movement. IGRT thereby helps reduce toxicity of radiotherapy and increases relapse-free survival. An inter-correlation point with a fixed position and volume (a marker) can be applied to indicate the point of treatment clearly in both imaging modalities and to localize and track tumors in real time. In this study, we present the development of a marker based on lactose octaacetate:octapropionate 1:1 containing 3 mM PLA-DTPA(Gd), 40% triglyceride, 5% propylene carbonate and 10% XSAIB (sucrose based CT-contrast agent). The injectable marker had high CT contrast (>1000 HU) and displayed clearly visible, stable T.sub.1 contrast enhancement (T.sub.1˜900 ms) in the rim over at least 3 weeks with clinically observable resolution.

An imaging nanoparticle comprising a plant virus particle having an interior surface and an exterior surface, an imaging agent that is linked to the interior and/or exterior surface, and a layer of biocompatible mineral such as silica coated over the exterior surface, is described. The imaging nanoparticle can be used in method of generating an image of a tissue region of a subject, by administering to the subject a diagnostically effective amount of an imaging nanoparticle and generating an image of the tissue region of the subject to which the imaging nanoparticle has been distributed.

MRI contrast agent for use in the diagnosis of early changes in the endothelium of blood vessels

The present invention relates to a NDG-Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposite comprising a nitrogen doped graphene (NDG) and Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanoparticles. The NDG-Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposite is useful in bimodal performance including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The NDG-Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposites of the present invention caused significant cell death under laser irradiation, while control and Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanoparticles showed negligible cell death.