Disclosed herein is a method of enhancing the accuracy and/or sensitivity of ultrasound imaging in detecting a tumor in a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a nanoparticle prior to the application of ultrasound to the subject. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the nanoparticle is a magnetic nanoparticle, for example, a gold, silver, or iron oxide nanoparticle. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating a tumor in a subject by detecting the tumor via ultrasound with the aid of a nanoparticle, and then administering to the subject an anti-cancer treatment based on the location of the tumor revealed by the ultrasound image.

A nanoparticle including at least one amphiphilic molecule and a polymer compound having a constitutional unit represented by Formula (1):

##STR00001## wherein, Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 represent a trivalent aromatic hydrocarbon ring group or a trivalent aromatic heterocyclic group; X and Y represent O, S, C(O), S(O), SO.sub.2, CR.sub.2, SiR.sub.2, NR, BR, PR, or P(O)(R); and R represents an alkyl group, aryl group, or the like; and n represents an integer of 1 or more.

Nanoparticles for use in diagnosis by photoacoustic imaging or therapy by photothermal therapy are disclosed. The nanoparticles may have a core containing a light-absorbing material and silica. The nanoparticles may contain a light-absorbing material comprising an electron accepting unit and an electron donating unit wherein the electron-donating unit is a unit of formula (IIIa-1) wherein: Y in each occurrence is independently O or S; Z in each occurrence is O, S, NR.sup.55, or C(R.sup.54).sub.2; R.sup.51 in each occurrence is H or a substituent; R.sup.54 in each occurrence is independently a substituent; and R.sup.55 is H or a substituent.

##STR00001##

Provided is a bilirubin derivative-based ultrasound contrast agent for diagnosis and treatment. The fine particles including the bilirubin derivative are sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), bind with hydrophobic drugs, and can effectively chelate metals such as iron oxide nanoparticles. Therefore, the fine particle of the present invention can be used as an ultrasound contrast agent for diagnosis, as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, or as a carrier for hydrophobic drugs or platinum-based drugs.

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.

The present invention relates generally to treatment methods using sono-responsive embolic agents and ultrasound to monitor the location or travel of the embolic agents. The embolic agents may be modified to alter wettability for enhanced treatment of various disease states.

A method of manufacturing a suspension of gas-filled microvesicles by reconstituting a freeze-dried product and a suspension obtained according to said method, where the freeze-dried product has been subjected to a thermal treatment.

A nanodroplet particle useful as an imaging contrast agent comprises a saline solution that upon irradiation with a radiofrequency energy generate a detectable acoustic signal. The saline solution nanodroplets can be encapsulated by a fluorinated shell that maintains the integrity of the nanodroplets. The saline solution and the fluorinated shell form the nanoparticles when sonicated, for example, in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant to form double-emulsion compositions. The nanoparticles of the disclosure may be advantageously useful as imaging contrast agents suitable for providing a detectable signal when administered to an animal or human subject. The nanoparticles can be conjugated to targeting agents such as biomarker or cell-specific ligands so that the nanoparticles may be concentrated to a desired target such as, but not limited to, a suspected tumor.

The invention provides compositions and methods for targeted controlled drug release. The compositions and methods can be used for treating or imaging vascular stenosis, stenotic lesions, occluded lumens, embolic phenomena, thrombotic disorders and internal hemorrhage.

Targeted nanoparticles are provided which facilitate detection of and therapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The nanoparticles may be used to target other forms of cancer as well, such as pancreatic, colorectal, and breast. The nanoparticles may provide optical contrast for pre-operative diagnostic imaging and intraoperative navigation using surface-enhanced Raman scattering techniques. Moreover, the nanoparticles may inhibit tumoral growth, block tumoral blood flow, and decrease metastatic spread of GBM. The nanoparticles may further reduce the inflammatory response, which is essential to the growth of the glioma and can be harmful to the patient. The nanoparticle may comprise a biologically inert substance, a biocompatible polymer, an optical-acoustic reporter, and a glioblastoma specific receptor ligand conjugated to the biocompatible polymer. For instance, in some embodiments, the biologically inert substance may be a gold or silica nanoshell, the biocompatible polymer may be polyethylene glycol, the optical-acoustic reporter may be prussian blue, and the glioblastoma specific receptor ligand may be aprepitant.