The presently-disclosed subject matter relates to an artificial RNA nanostructure and method of use thereof. In particular, the presently-disclosed subject matter relates to RNA nanoparticles and RNA dendrimers, and methods of disease diagnosis and treatments using the RNA nanostructure and RNA dendrimers.

This disclosure relates saccharide analogs such as thiomaltose-based analogs for targeting bacteria and related uses. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of transferring a molecule of interest into bacteria comprising mixing bacteria with a non-naturally occurring conjugate, wherein the conjugate comprises a thiomaltose-based analog and a molecule of interest under conditions such that the conjugate is transported across the bacterial cell wall. In certain embodiments, the molecule of interest can be a tracer or an antibiotic.

Readily available hydrophilic and small organofluorine moieties were condensed via “click chemistry” to generate nonionic hydrophilic fluorinated molecules with unique .sup.19F MR signatures. These were used to fabricate stable liposome formulations for imaging various tissue types. This approach was tailored to exploit the broad spectrum of organic .sup.19F molecular species and to generate probes with distinct .sup.19F MRI signatures for simultaneous assessment of multiple molecular targets within the same target volume.

A method for forming encapsulated gold nanoparticles mixes mangiferin into a liquid medium to form a reducing agent solution. Gold salts are mixed into the reducing agent solution. Reaction of the gold salts is permitted, in the absence of any other reducing agent, to form a nanoparticle solution of stabilized, biocompatible gold nanoparticles coated with mangiferin. The gold salts can consist of AuCl4, or can consist of radioactive gold salts. A cancer therapy method injects a solution of mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles directly into a solid tumor. A solution consisting of an aqueous or alcoholic medium and mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles is provided. The mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles can have core sizes of ˜5-20 nm and total sizes of ˜20-120 nm.

Inter alia, the first titania-catalyzed [.sup.18F]-radiofluorination in highly aqueous medium is provided. In embodiments, the method utilizes titanium dioxide, 1:1 acetonitrile-thexyl alcohol solvent mixture and tetrabutylammonium bicarbonate as a base. Radiolabeling may be directly performed with aqueous [.sup.18F]fluoride without the need for drying/azeotroping step, which reduces radiosynthesis time while keeping high fluoride conversion. The general applicability of the synthetic strategy to the synthesis of the wide range of PET probes from tosylated precursors is demonstrated.

Compositions and methods for the personalized and targeted therapeutic treatment of diseases and disorders, including the treatment of pain, inflammation, and infectious diseases in a subject. In particular, labeled natural cannabinoid therapeutic compositions are provided that include a conjugate of a natural cannabinoid compound, a chelator, and a label, that when coupled with imaging may be used to determine in real time optimal dosing and targeting of particular pathways and tissues to provide personalized therapies. Combination therapies are also provided that include one or more natural cannabinoid compound and at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient.

The invention provides a compound having the following structure:

D-DT-R,

wherein D is a dextran molecule or a charged dextran molecule having a molecular weight between about 50,000 and about 110,000 Daltons, DT is dodecane tetra-acetic acid (DOTA) or a conjugate base thereof, and R is a radioactive isotope. The invention also provides a method for treating body cavity cancer in a patient afflicted therewith, comprising administering an effective amount of a dextran—dodecane tetraacetic acid—radioactive isotope compound in a pharmaceutically effective vehicle.

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.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to microfluidic devices and systems comprising such devices for use in the determination of sample characteristics. Certain embodiments relate to methods for determining one or more characteristics of a sample comprising a compound for in vivo use. Aptly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to devices and methods for assessing radiopharmaceuticals and their suitability for administration to a patient in need thereof.

Compositions and methods of using these compositions that can include a targeting moiety and a therapeutic agent are described herein. These compositions can be used for treating inflammatory diseases, such as parasitic diseases that result in cutaneous lesions. For example, and without limitation, such an parasitic disease can be leishmaniasis.