The present invention relates to a nanoparticle having a linker connected to a long alkane or alkene chain, and a method for preparing the nanoparticle. The alkyl chain of C.sub.10-30 introduced with a ligand of the present invention can be coated on a hydrophobic nanoparticle through a noncovalent bond, enabling easy introduction of various ligands to the nanoparticle, and the nanoparticle having various functional groups prepared using the method can be applied to fluorescent detection, MRI, raman spectroscopy, optical detection, PET, SPECT, or gamma image device, and the ligand of the visualization agents can be modified to be used for new vessels detection, cancer cell detection, immunocyte detection, hepatocyte detection, cell death detection, and gene detection.

The present disclosure relates to a plurality of quantum dot nanoparticles conjugated to ligands, and in particular a plurality of quantum dot nanoparticles wherein each nanoparticle is conjugated to an exosome-specific binding ligand. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making such a plurality of conjugated quantum dot nanoparticles, methods of detecting exosomes using such a plurality of conjugated quantum dot nanoparticles and methods of detecting exosomes using such a plurality of conjugated quantum dot nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles include a core and one or more targeting moieties, as well as one or more contrast agents or one or more therapeutic agents. The contrast agents or therapeutic agents may be contained or embedded within the core. If the nanoparticle includes therapeutic agents, the agents are preferably released from the core at a desired rate. The core may be biodegradable and may release the agents as the core is degraded or eroded. The targeting moieties preferably extend outwardly from the core so that they are available for interaction with cellular components, which interactions will target the nanoparticles to the appropriate cells, such as apoptotic cells; organelles, such as mitochondria; or the like. The targeting moieties may be tethered to the core or components that interact with the core.

The present invention relates to cell membrane-derived nanovesicles, a method of preparing the same, and a pharmaceutical composition and a diagnostic kit using the nanovesicles. The cell membrane-derived nanovesicles according to the present invention may prevent the occurrence of potential side effects because intracellular materials (e.g., genetic materials and cytosolic proteins) unnecessary for delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic substances are removed from the nanovesicles. In addition, since the nanovesicles may be targeted to the specific types of cells or tissues, therapeutic or diagnostic substances may be predominantly delivered to the targeted cells or tissues while delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic substances to untargeted sites may be inhibited. Therefore, when the cell membrane-derived nanovesicles are applied to disease treatment, the side effects of therapeutic substances such as drugs may be reduced, so that suffering and inconvenience of patients may be alleviated during the course of treating diseases, and therapeutic efficacy may be improved. In addition, the cell membrane-derived nanovesicles of the present invention, in which substances for the treatment or diagnosis of diseases are loaded, and a method of preparing the nanovesicles may be used in vitro or in vivo for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, or for experimental use.

An aqueous approach to synthesize capped SnS quantum dots (QDs) followed by optional capping molecule extension by attaching one or more extending molecules to the capping molecule via peptide bond formation at elevated temperature. The capped SnS QDs may have a capping molecule:Sn:S molar ratio of 16:3:1 to 16:12:1. A suspension of SnS QDs was heat-treated at 200 C. for 0.5-4 hrs. The obtained SnS QDs showed an NIR emission peak at 820-835 nm with an excitation wavelength at 690 nm. The as synthesized SnS QDs were found to have high positive zeta potential of 30 mV and thus were toxic to cells. By neutralizing the SnS QDs the cytotoxicity was reduced to an accepted level. The heat-treatment step can be obviated by adding a glycerol solution containing S.sup.2 anions and capping molecule to a glycerol solution of Sn.sup.2+ ions.

This disclosure describes a self-dispersed particle system for combining poorly soluble or insoluble compounds. This system enables the formation of carrier-free, crystalline particles with controllable size and uniform distribution in an aqueous solution. Notably, the compound proportion within these particles can reach 100%, conferring micro-nano characteristics and significantly enhancing solubility. This versatile system allows for the combination of diverse compounds, enabling tailored particle systems for various applications, including drug delivery. Its simple, rapid preparation, broad applicability, and scalability make it suitable for industrial production and clinical translation. Potential applications extend to diagnostic and therapeutic drugs, luminescent materials, and energy conversion materials.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing fluorescence from emitters that emit in the NIR-II and NIR-III. The compositions have particular use in both in vitro diagnostics, and in the live imaging of tissue during surgery, for example during removal of a tumour.

A method for early stage pathology detection, location, imaging, evaluation, and treatment of cells and/or extracellular vesicles in the circulation.

The present invention provides a diagnostic reagent or assay for assessing the activity of a protease in vivo or in vitro and methods of detecting the presence of a cancerous or precancerous cell. The assays are comprised of two particles linked via an oligopeptide linkage that comprises a consensus sequence specific for the target protease. Cleavage of the sequence by the target protease can be detected visually or using various sensors, and the diagnostic results can be correlated with cancer prognosis.

An engineered particle for detecting analytes in an environment includes an electromagnetic receiver that is configured to preferentially receive electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization relative to the orientation of the electromagnetic receiver. The engineered particle additionally includes an energy emitter coupled to the electromagnetic receiver such that a portion of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic receiver is transferred to and emitted by the energy emitter. The engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte. The engineered particle can additionally be configured to align with a directed energy field in the environment. The selective reception of electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization and/or alignment with a directed energy field can enable orientation tracking of individual engineered particles, imaging in high-noise environments, or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the engineered particle is also provided.