Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip devices have been developed with the aim to replicate human tissues in vitro. However, there is no option to quantitatively monitor biological processes that take place within the chip, over time. Destructive methods in order to analyze, tissue formation, gene expression, protein secretion etc. require the harvest of the tissue at a certain time point. Described herein are methods and compositions for non-destructive molecular imaging methods and systems in order to quantitatively monitor specific biological processes, over time, within the chip, without the need to harvest.

Provided is a nanophosphor having a core/double shell structure, the nanophosphor including a upconversion core including a Yb.sup.3+, Ho.sup.3+, and Ce.sup.3+ co-doped fluoride-based nanophosphor represented by Formula 1; a first shell surrounding at least a portion of the upconversion core, and comprising a Nd.sup.3+ and Yb.sup.3+ co-doped fluoride-based crystalline composition represented by Formula 2; and a second shell surrounding at least a portion of the first shell, and having paramagnetic properties represented by Formula 3.

A light emitter is formed from nanoparticles including a compound semiconductor containing an Ag component, In component, and Se component. The peak wavelength of the emission intensity falls within the range of 700 to 1400 nm, and the half-value width H for the peak wavelength is 100 nm or less. The light emitted is configured to emit strong light in the near-infrared region, and which is capable of detecting biological information, and is preferred for bioimaging.

Described herein are heterogeneous core@shell particles composed of a sensitizing persistent phosphor core and a lanthanide upconversion (UC) shell. The core@shell particles can be used for upconversion of visible light to ultraviolet light.

An object is to provide a polymer having a high tumor/blood ratio. The present invention provides a polymer represented by the following formula (P1):

##STR00001##

wherein in the formula (P1), R represents any of a residue derived from a polymerization initiator, or a functional group; A may not be present, and when present, A represents any of a low-molecular compound, a dye, a reporter molecule, a target-binding molecule, a polymer or D; L represents a linker and L may not be present; n.sub.1 represents an integer of 1 or more; and D represents a dye backbone of a dye having absorption in the near-infrared region.

The present disclosure relates to gastrointestinal (GI) tract detection methods, devices and systems.

The present Invention relates to the monitoring of biological substances, such as non-invasive monitoring of such substances in animal, for examples biomarkers and metabolites. Specifically, the invention further relates to such monitoring using rare earth tagged marker compounds. The invention further relates to such monitoring using laser spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy. The invention further relates to the use of such monitoring in disease states, such as stroke, neurological disorders and cardiovascular disorders. The invention further relates to novel rare-earth conjugated marker compounds and processes for preparing said rare-earth conjugated compounds

Provided herein are transmitter ligands that improve photon upconversion of near infrared light (NIR) to visible light. The presently provided ligands are complexed to semiconductor nanocrystals and improve triplet energy transfer from semiconductor nanocrystal to annihilator in triplet-triplet annihilation. Suitable applications include bio-imaging.

The invention described herein relates to sterically stabilized colloidal constructs comprising preformed colloidal particles encapsulated within a polymeric shell. The constructs, which are controllably sized, are nanoparticles comprising hydrophobic elements, electrostatically charged particles with hydrophobic surfaces, hydrophobic inorganic nanostructures, and amphiphilic copolymers with hydrophobic domains and hydrophilic domains. The constructs are made by a process that allows for the simultaneous encapsulation of a preformed colloidal agent as well as a dissolved hydrophobic active within the core of the polymeric nanoparticle. Among the actives incorporated in various embodiments are organic fluorescent dyes, metal nanostructures and superparamagnetic materials for use in combined fluorescence, optical and magnetic resonance imaging applications, and hydrophobic drugs for therapeutic applications.

Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip devices have been developed with the aim to replicate human tissues in vitro. However, there is no option to quantitatively monitor biological processes that take place within the chip, over time. Destructive methods in order to analyze, tissue formation, gene expression, protein secretion etc. require the harvest of the tissue at a certain time point. Described herein are methods and compositions for non-destructive molecular imaging methods and systems in order to quantitatively monitor specific biological processes, over time, within the chip, without the need to harvest.