Compositions that include a therapeutic agent encapsulated by an edible plant-derived microvesicle are provided. Methods for treating an inflammatory disorder and methods for treating a cancer are further provided and include administering an effective amount of a composition that includes a therapeutic agent encapsulated by an edible plant-derived microvesicle to a subject. Further provided are methods of diagnosing a colon cancer that include the steps of administering an edible plant-derived microvesicle incorporating a detectable label to a subject and then determining an amount of the detectable label in an intestine of the subject.

A compound comprising an oligomer formed from a biocompatible multifunctional carboxylic acid comprising a hydroxyl group and at least one carboxylic acid, an polyol (e.g., an aliphatic diol), and a linker. One or more conductive oligomers (e.g., polyanilines) are covalently bonded to the oligomer. The compounds can have various forms (e.g., articles of manufacture, films, scaffolds, and the like). The compounds have various uses. For example, the compounds are used in photoacoustic imaging methods.

Methods of obtaining and kits that can be used to obtain an optical super-resolution image of a sample or a portion thereof or an individual or a portion thereof. In various examples, the individual is an individual with cancer. In various examples, a method includes contacting a sample or individual with one or more aluminosilicate nanoparticle(s) that have at least one organic fluorophore molecule covalently bonded to the aluminosilicate network of the nanoparticle(s), or a composition including the aluminosilicate nanoparticle(s); irradiating the sample or the individual, thereby exciting at least one of the fluorophore molecules of an individual aluminosilicate nanoparticle; and obtaining a fluorescence image or a sequence of fluorescence images, which can be processed to obtain a super-resolution image of the sample or the individual. In various examples, the sample is a biological sample, living or fixed tissues and/or cells, or a biopsy obtained from an individual.

Provided herein is a small molecule delivery system with illumination-induced small molecule release based on the binary combination of charged liposomes containing small molecules and oppositely charged conjugates of a peptide with a photosensitizer attached to one end of peptide chain, providing binding to liposomes and their permeabilization upon light illumination.

Biodegradable fluorescent silica nanoparticle (FSN) are provided for in vivo imaging, particularly of cancerous and precancerous lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. The FSN are comprised of (a) a dye that fluoresces in the near infrared spectrum which is (i) covalently joined to a silane, and (ii) distributed throughout the nanoparticle; and (b) silica distributed throughout the nanoparticle. The surface may be coated with hydroxyl-terminated PEG, which is shown to reduce uptake of the nanoparticles by the liver. The dyes provide for sensitive detection of clinically relevant lesions, and are biodegradable.

Provided herein are block copolymers comprising a hydrophilic polymer segment and a hydrophobic polymer segment, wherein the hydrophilic polymer segment comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methacrylate phosphatidyl choline) (MPC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), wherein the hydrophobic polymer segment comprises ##STR00001##
wherein R′ is —H or —CH.sub.3, wherein R is —NR.sup.1R.sup.2, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together have from 5 to 16 carbons, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may optionally join to form a ring, wherein n is 1 to about 10, and wherein x is about 20 to about 200 in total. Also provided are pH-sensitive micelle compositions for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Provided herein are block copolymers comprising a hydrophilic polymer segment and a hydrophobic polymer segment, wherein the hydrophilic polymer segment comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methacrylate phosphatidyl choline) (MPC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), wherein the hydrophobic polymer segment comprises

##STR00001##

wherein R′ is —H or —CH.sub.3, wherein R is —NR.sup.1R.sup.2, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together have from 5 to 16 carbons, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may optionally join to form a ring, wherein n is 1 to about 10, and wherein x is about 20 to about 200 in total. Also provided are pH-sensitive micelle compositions for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Compositions of luminescence labeled activated natural killer (aNK) cells are utilized in methods of in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) for assaying and identifying genetically modified NK cells capable of targeting selected anatomical locations (e.g., bone and/or brain) or targeting selected diseased cells at selected sites.

The present invention provides a fluorescent molecular probe for efficient fluorescent detection (visualization) of tumors or for implementing fluorescent detection and photodynamic treatment, more specifically, the present invention provides a macromolecular fluorescent molecular probe for fluorescent detection of tumor, comprising a complex comprising a fluorescent molecule and a biocompatible macromolecule.

Disclosed herein are implantable devices coated with a reagent, and methods of preparing and utilizing such devices. The implantable device may comprise an implantable light conduit. The present disclosure enables a more precise registration between the reagent and the device implanted in the target tissue of a subject.