A nanoparticle for targeted siRNA delivery comprising an iron oxide core and a chitosan-polyethylene glycol-polyethylenimine copolymer coating surrounding the core, chlorotoxin covalently coupled to the coating, and an siRNA reversibly associated to the coating by non-covalent interaction. Methods for making the nanoparticle and methods for using the nanoparticle to suppress the expression of O.sup.6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), treating brain cancer, and killing cancer stem cells.

The present invention provides a dual-purpose photoacoustic tomography (PAT)/ultrasound contrast agent comprising: (a) a micro-bubble containing gas and porphyrin therein; and (b) nanoparticles bound on a surface of the micro-bubble and containing a drug. The contrast agent of the present invention can be used in both the ultrasound diagnosis and the photoacoustic image diagnosis, and can significantly increase the accuracy of photoacoustic images.

Disclosed are nanostructures comprising a ribonucleic acid (RNA) scaffold comprising a hexameric tetrahedral core. The tetrahedral core may comprise four hexameric RNA nanorings linked together. Related pharmaceutical compositions, methods of modulating the expression of a target gene in a mammal, methods of treating or preventing a disease in a mammal, and methods of producing a hexameric tetrahedral RNA nanostructure are also disclosed.

The current inventive technology includes system, methods and compositions for the generation of a cloaked microbubble having buried-ligand architecture (BLA) that may allow the cloaked microbubble to circumvent potentially deleterious immunogenic, or other unwanted chemical responses in a host. The current inventive technology may also includes systems and methods to isolate monodisperse size populations of microbubbles for enhanced therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

A targeting nanoparticle composition and method of treatment for diseases associated with major basement membrane components of blood vessels accessible from blood stream is presented. The composition includes pegylated perfluorocarbon nanoparticles having a targeting ligand attached that targets the basement membrane components, specifically collagen IV. The targeted nanoparticles may contain at least one pharmaceutically active agent capable of treating a glomerular disease such as lupus nephritis.

The present disclosure provides phospholipid-containing compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and microspheres that exhibit high affinity for mineralized metals. The present disclosure also provides strategies for using said compounds, compositions and microspheres in the treatment of nephrolithiasis or kidney stone disease, and methods of manufacturing and preparing said compounds and compositions.

Disclosed herein are low density particles comprising polymerized fibrin that are micrometer or nanometer sized in diameter. The particles can further include at least one therapeutic agent. The particles may be used to treat wounds, by administration directly or systemically to the site of the wound. Exemplary wounds that may be treated with the fibrin particles include a trauma wound, a surgical wound, a burn wound, or an ulcer wound. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing the particles using a shearing process.

A method, device and system for ultrasonic delivery and attachment of ligand-receptor based drugs and/or drug carriers and/or image enhancing contrast agents utilizing catch and slip bond mechanisms in a targeted part(s) of the human or animal (patient) body or organs or tissue is described and disclosed. The system includes an acoustic power source coupled to an acoustic transducer with the acoustic transducer placed upon a patient's delivery zone. The acoustic transducer transmits an acoustic field to the target drug delivery and/or imaging zone. A detection probe and/or a probe of an imaging system are placed over or within said delivery zone and the probe is coupled to a sensing/imaging system. A control computer that controls power and wave shape of the acoustic signal generated into the acoustic filed by the acoustic power source and receives data from the sensing/imaging system. This system utilizes catch and slip bonds for the delivery of drugs and/or drug carriers and/or image enhancing contrast agents. Placing an acoustic transducer over a delivery zone having ligand-receptor based drugs and/or drug carriers and/or image enhancing contrast agents. The method includes coupling an acoustic power source to said acoustic power source and installing a probe within or over said delivery zone. The probe is coupled to a sensing/imaging system. A control computer is used to control a power and a wave shape of the acoustic field generated by said acoustic transducer. The method uses a catch and slip bonds within said acoustic field to deliver ligand-receptor based drugs and/or drug carriers and/or image enhancing contrast.

Non-viral delivery platforms are provided for facilitating transport of molecules across cell membranes. In some forms, DNA nanoshells capable of transporting cargo molecules are formed, and may be formed in order to surround a variety of materials for a variety of purposes.

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising an SpHtp1 peptide translocation sequence and uses of such compositions. Also described are compositions comprising a payload coupled to an SpHtp1 peptide translocation sequence and their uses.