[Problem] To provide a novel fluorescent probe for super-resolution imaging that uses fluorescent light emission characteristics that originate from an intermolecular nucleophilic addition-dissociation equilibrium reaction, and to provide a super-resolution fluorescent imaging method that uses the probe. [Solution] A fluorescent probe for super-resolution imaging that comprises a compound represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof(in the formula, X represents an oxygen atom, C(R.sup.a) (R.sup.b), or Si(R.sup.a) (R.sup.b) (wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted aryl (provided that, if R.sup.1 is a phenyl group, the benzene ring of the phenyl group does not have a substituent at position 2 or position 6), R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each independently represent 1-3 identical or differing substituents that are independently selected from the group that consists of hydrogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, halogen atoms, optionally substituted alkyl groups, optionally substituted sulfo groups, optionally substituted carboxyl groups, optionally substituted ester groups, optionally substituted amide groups, and optionally substituted azide groups, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group or N(R.sup.4) (R.sup.5) forms an amide group or a carbamate group (provided that, if R.sup.4 or R.sup.5 is an alkyl group, each may form, together with R.sup.2, a ring structure that contains the nitrogen atom that is bonded thereto), and R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group or N(R.sup.6)(R.sup.7) forms an amide group or a carbamate group (provided that, if R.sup.6 or R.sup.7 is an alkyl group, each may form, together with R.sup.3, a ring structure that contains the nitrogen atom that is bonded thereto)), the fluorescent probe for super-resolution imaging being characterized in that the compound represented by formula (I) or the salt thereof undergoes a nucleophilic addition-dissociation equilibrium reaction with a nucleophilic compound that contains an SH group.

A ferumoxytol-based dual-modality imaging probe for long-term stem cell tracking through MRI and early diagnosis of cell apoptosis through simultaneous fluorescence imaging is provided. Specifically, a ferumoxytol-based dual-modality imaging probe is provided with enhanced T.sub.2* relaxivity for tracking stem cells through magnetic resonance imaging and detecting apoptotic stem cells through fluorescence imaging.

The present disclosure relates to the delivery of polynucleotides and/or oligonucleotides using silica delivery platforms, e.g., silica carriers or protocells. In particular, in the present disclosure, polynucleotides in the form of plasmids expressing siRNA may be administered as cargo in the silica delivery platform to a patient or subject to inhibit and/or treat cancer in a patient. In one aspect, the silica delivery platform that have been charged with cargo comprising plasmid DNA (in particular, CRISPR ds plasmid DNA) which expresses siRNA, shRNA, mRNA and other RNA which may be used to administer these plasmids to patients in order to effect inhibition of cancer cells (especially including apoptosis of those cancer cells) and effective and/or prophylaxis of cancer, as well as numerous pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and/or other disease states and/or conditions. In another aspect, the silica delivery platform comprises a biological package (e.g., plasmid nucleic acid, such as a for a CRISPR/Cas system) that interacts with a genomic sequence to either activate or inhibit gene expression. Such vehicles can be employed to control gene activation and repression in a host (e.g., a patient) and/or a pathogen.

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.

Silica nanorings, methods of making silica nanorings, and uses of silica nanorings. The silica nanorings may be PEGylated. The silica nanorings may be surface functionalized, which may be surface selective functionalization, with one or more polyethylene glycol (PEG) group(s), one or more display group(s), one or more functional group(s), or a combination thereof. The silica nanorings may have a size of 5 to 20 nm. The silica nanorings may be made using micelles. The absence or presence of the micelles during PEGylation and/or functionalization allows for surface selective functionalization. The silica nanorings may be used in various diagnostic and/or treatment methods.

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.

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.

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.

Recombinant vectors in which expression of one or more elements (e.g. genes required for viral replication, detectable imaging agents, therapeutic agents, etc.) is driven by a truncated CCN 1 cancer selective promoter (tCCN1-Prom) are provided, as are cells and transgenic animals that contain such vectors. The vectors are used in cancer therapy and/or diagnostics, and the transgenic mice are used to monitor cancer progression, e.g. in screening assays.

The present invention relates to intraoperative fluorescent imaging (IFI) used both pre-clinically using in-vivo models, as well as clinically to map sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer, skin cancer, GI cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and several other cancers. IFI can be used to image solid tumors both non-specifically in hepatobiliary and breast cancers as well as in prostate and ovarian cancer. In one embodiment, two-dimensional resolution to 10 m.sup.2 is possible with optical imaging, significantly higher than other imaging modalities.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a series of self-assembled nanoparticles using HLA (hyaluronic acid) as both a polymeric backbone as well as targeting ligand. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to the synthesis of HLA conjugates, and the effect of variation of the hydrophobic ligand structure and conjugation level on nanoparticle self-assembly, size, ICG loading efficiency, and ICG fluorescence quenching and reactivation.