An embodiment includes a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam with visibility under both X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities. Dual modality visibility is achieved by chemically incorporating monomers with X-ray visible iodine-motifs and MRI visible monomers with gadolinium content. This material platform has the potential to be used in a variety of medical devices.

Methods of ex vivo labeling of a biological material for in vivo imaging, methods of labeling a biological material in vivo, methods for preparing a labeling agent, and methods for in vivo imaging of a subject using a biological material labeled with a labeling agent are disclosed. In one non-limiting example, the biological material is selected from cells and the labeling agent is a .sup.89Zr-Desferrioxamine-NCS labeling agent.

The present invention relates to an isolated cellular targeted delivery system comprising a CD45+ leukocyte cell comprising within said cell a complex of one or more iron binding proteins and/or a label as well as methods for producing such isolated cellular targeted delivery system and uses of such system for therapy diagnosis and in particular for diagnosis of cancer, particularly metastatic cancer, in particular for therapy of cancer.

A system and method are provided for tracking magnetically-labeled substances, such as transplanted cells, in subjects using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method includes obtaining a quantity of a substance that comprises an MRI contrast compound or is otherwise magnetically-labeled for purposes of an MRI scan, administering the substance into a region of interest of a subject, performing an imaging scan of a portion of the subject comprising the region of interest, obtaining an imaging data set from the scan, reducing the dataset into pixel groupings based on intensity profiles, where the pixel groupings have a pixel size larger than the expected pixel size of a unit of the MRI contrast compound or magnetically-labeled substance, extracting candidate pixel matrices from the imaging data, training a machine learning (ML) module by using the candidate pixel matrices, quantifying the presence, number and/or location of units of the substance within the subject by using the ML module, and displaying a visual representation of an identification of the substances within the subject as a result of using the ML module.

The present invention provides stem cells loaded with bi-functional magnetic nanoparticles (nanoparticle-loaded stem cells (NLSC)) that both: a) heat in an alternating magnetic field (AMF); and b) provide MRI contrast enhancement for MR-guided hyperthermia. The nanoparticles in the NLSC are non-toxic, and do not alter stem cell proliferation and differentiation, the nanoparticles do however, become heated in an alternating magnetic field, enabling therapeutic applications for cancer treatment. Due to the fact that circulating stem cells home to tumors and metastasis, and participate in neovascularization of growing tumors, the NLSC of the present invention allows tracking of the tissue distribution of infused stem cells and selective heating of targeted tissues with AMF. NLSC can deliver hyperthermia to hypoxic areas in tumors for sensitization of those areas to subsequent treatment, thus delivering therapy to the most treatment-resistant tumor regions. The heating of diseased tissue either results in direct cell killing or makes the tumor more susceptible to radio- and/or chemotherapy. The targeted hyperthermia provided by the present invention has clinical potential because it is associated with fewer side effects, and can also be used in combination with conventional treatment modalities, significantly enhancing their effectiveness. The NLSC of the present invention can be used for MR image-guided hyperthermia in oncology, in stem cell research for cell tracking and heating, and for elimination of mis-injected stem cells.

The invention is directed to the field of gene therapy, i.e. gene delivery into target cells, tissue, organ and organism, and more particularly to gene delivery via viral vectors. The inventors showed that it is possible by chemical coupling to modulate the coupling of a ligand in the surface of the capsid of AAV, for example AAV2 and AAV3b. In particular, the present invention relates to a recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle having at least one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins, chemically coupled with at least one ligand L, wherein coupling of said ligand L is implemented through a bond comprising a —CSNH— bond and an optionally substituted aromatic moiety.

Particularly, the inventors tested the chemical coupling of mannose ligand on AAV2 for subretinally injection to rats. The present invention further relates to a method for chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector particle with at least one ligand L and to a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle obtained by said method as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising it and their corresponding medical use.

Hybrid gas vesicle gene cluster (GVGC) configured for expression in a prokaryotic host are described comprising gas vesicle assembly (GVA) genes native to a GVA prokaryotic species and capable of being expressed in a functional form in the prokaryotic host, and one or more gas vesicle structural (GVS) genes native to one or more GVS prokaryotic species, at least one of the one or more GVS prokaryotic species different from the GVA prokaryotic species, and related gas vesicle reporting (GVR) genetic circuits, genetic, vectors, engineered cells, and related compositions methods and systems to produce GVs, hybrid GVGC and/or image a target site.

The instant application describes improved methods and compositions for the systemic delivery of therapeutic exosomes to a subject in need thereof. In certain embodiments, the current invention reduces the amount of exosomes delivered to liver, spleen and combinations thereof to allow greater distribution to other areas of the body such as, but not limited to, the brain, pancreas, lung, kidney, muscle. In certain embodiments, the methods involve the injection of one or multiple doses of non-therapeutic exosomes prior to the injection of a suitable therapeutic dose of exosomes with a therapeutic payload. Also included are methods to improve immune clearance of exosomes in subjects by inhibiting phagocytosis.

Hybrid gas vesicle gene cluster (GVGC) configured for expression in a prokaryotic host are described comprising gas vesicle assembly (GVA) genes native to a GVA prokaryotic species and capable of being expressed in a functional form in the prokaryotic host, and one or more gas vesicle structural (GVS) genes native to one or more GVS prokaryotic species, at least one of the one or more GVS prokaryotic species different from the GVA prokaryotic species, and related gas vesicle reporting (GVR) genetic circuits, genetic, vectors, engineered cells, and related compositions methods and systems to produce GVs, hybrid GVGC and/or image a target site.

The invention is directed to the field of gene therapy, i.e. gene delivery into target cells, tissue, organ and organism, and more particularly to gene delivery via viral vectors. The inventors showed that it is possible by chemical coupling to modulate the coupling of a ligand in the surface of the capsid of AAV, for example AAV2 and AAV3b. In particular, the present invention relates to a recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle having at least one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins, chemically coupled with at least one ligand L, wherein coupling of said ligand L is implemented through a bond comprising a —CSNH— bond and an optionally substituted aromatic moiety.

Particularly, the inventors tested the chemical coupling of mannose ligand on AAV2 for subretinally injection to rats. The present invention further relates to a method for chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector particle with at least one ligand L and to a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle obtained by said method as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising it and their corresponding medical use.