A method for early stage pathology detection, location, imaging, evaluation, and treatment of cells and/or extracellular vesicles in the circulation.

Disclosed herein is a nanocomposite particle comprising a core-shell-shell nanoparticle, an encapsulated nanorod linked with the core-shell-shell nanoparticle, and a lipid layer encapsulating the core-shell-shell nanoparticle and the encapsulated nanorod. The core-shell nanoparticle comprises a phosphor core, an inner shell layer, an outer shell layer, and a cationic polymer. The encapsulated nanorod comprises a nanorod, and a mesoporous scaffold. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the encapsulated nanorod is linked with the core-shell-shell nanoparticle via an electrostatic interaction between the cationic polymer and the mesoporous scaffold. Also disclosed are the uses of the nanocomposite in treating diseases, for example, cancers.

Various embodiments are directed to color-coded and size-calibrated polymeric particles comprising an acrylate-based hydrogel core incorporating one or more chromophores of interest, and an outer shell comprising polyphosphazenes of formula I, useful for various therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedures. In various embodiments, the color-coded and size-calibrated polymeric particles can be employed in any particle-mediated procedure, including as embolic agents, dermal fillers, and various implantable devices for a broad range of clinical and cosmetic applications. The incorporation of a particular chromophore formulation that correlates with a pre-determined size specificity for implantable and loadable polymeric particles (“color-coded and size-calibrated”) enables the visual detection and identification of particles exhibiting a particular size of interest, and minimizes the probability of user-introduced or procedural errors.

Provided is a mitochondrial copper depleting strategy that exploits the potential vulnerability for this metabolic by cancer cells such as Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells. A nanoparticle is provided that comprises a self-reporting copper-depleting moiety (CDM) embedded in or on the matrix comprising a semi-conducting polymer and a phospholipid-polyethylene glycol (PEG). The positively charged copper-depleting complex targets mitochondria and deprives cytochrome c oxidase of its necessary copper co-factor. Inhibition of the electron transport chain complex IV compromises oxygen consumption and abrogates fatty acid oxidation, resulting in energy deficiency induced apoptosis of the targeted cancer cells. The copper-depleting nanoparticle can report the copper depleting status through multimodal optical signal changes while decreasing the copper level in tumors to inhibit tumor growth with low toxicity and significantly prolonged survival.

The present invention relates to an ultrasound-induced drug delivery system using a drug carrier containing a plurality of nanobubbles and a high concentration of a drug in one microcapsule, and specifically is directed to a method for preparing a drug delivery system having a high concentration of a drug and a plurality of nanobubbles encapsulated therein, by generating the nanobubbles in an oil into which the drug is dissolved using a nanobubble generator, and then microencapsulating them; and an ultrasound-induced drug delivery system using the same.

The drug delivery system using the nanobubbles according to the present invention is prepared in the form of microcapsules in which both the drug and the nanobubbles are encapsulated, and, in particular, has an effect of maximizing drug delivery efficiency as the nanobubbles collapse or aggregate when the ultrasound is applied to the drug delivery system.

Further, since the drug delivery system of the present invention contains a plurality of nanobubbles within the microcapsules, it can also be used as a contrast agent. The drug delivery system prepared according to the method described in this specification and having both the drug and the nanobubbles encapsulated therein has a feature that can simultaneously perform in vivo diagnosis and treatment.

A platinum sulfide protein nanoparticle having near-infrared photothermal effect and multi-modal imaging function, a preparation method therefor and an application thereof. The platinum sulfide nanoparticle having near-infrared photothermal effect and multi-modal imaging function is prepared in aqueous phase by means of formulation screening and process limitation. The nanoparticle has an ultra-small particle size and good stability as well as tumor targeting and photothermal effects and integrates functions of near-infrared imaging, CT imaging, and thermal imaging, so as to achieve high sensitivity, high resolution, and precise positioning of tumors, and to produce high-efficiency photothermal effects under the excitation of near-infrared light to kill tumor cells by thermal ablation, thereby achieving the purpose of efficient, safe, visual, and accurate treatment of tumors. The nanoparticle has the potential for further development and clinical application.

A tissue implantation device comprises a capsule; and a population of ultrasound-switchable fluorophores incorporated in the capsule. A method of imaging a tissue implantation device in a biological environment comprises disposing the tissue implantation device in a biological environment, the population of ultrasound-switchable fluorophores having a switching threshold in the biological environment; exposing the biological environment to an ultrasound beam to form an activation region within the biological environment; switching the ultrasound-switchable fluorophores in the activation region from an off state to an on state; exciting the ultrasound-switchable fluorophores in the activation region with a beam of electromagnetic radiation; and detecting light emitted by the ultrasound-switchable fluorophores.

The present invention provides compositions relating to nanoparticles, such as nanocapsules, that selectively target cells associated with diseases or disorders (e.g., cancer cells). The present invention further relates to methods relating to the said nanoparticles for imaging, detection, and treatment of diseases or disorders in a subject. The present invention additionally provides kits that find use in the practice of the methods of the invention.

Polymeric particles are provided for use in therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedures. The particles include poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene and/or a derivative thereof which may be present throughout the particles or within an outer coating of the particles. The particles may also include a core having a hydrogel formed from an acrylic-based polymer. Such particles may be provided to a user in specific selected sizes to allow for selective embolization of certain sized blood vessels or localized treatment with an active component agent in specific clinical uses. Particles of the present invention may further be provided as color-coded microspheres or nanospheres to allow ready identification of the sized particles in use. Such color-coded microspheres or nanospheres may further be provided in like color-coded delivery or containment devices to enhance user identification and provide visual confirmation of the use of a specifically desired size of microspheres or nanospheres.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) that may be useful as ultrasound contrast agents for detecting and treating bladder cancer are described herein. The MSNs include a lanthanide, a fluorophore, and an agent detectable by ultrasound.