The present invention relates to a complex for bioimaging, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer cells. The complex of the present invention comprises fluorescent nanoparticles and a manganese salt conjugated to the surface of the fluorescent nanoparticles, and the fluorescence of the fluorescent nanoparticles in the complex is quenched due to the conjugation of the manganese salt.

Polymers, monomers, chromophoric polymer dots and related methods are provided. Highly fluorescent chromophoric polymer dots with narrow-band emissions are provided. Methods for synthesizing the chromophoric polymers, preparation methods for forming the chromophoric polymer dots, and biological applications using the unique properties of narrow-band emissions are also provided.

A core-shell plasmonic nanogapped nanostructured material is provided. The core-shell nanogapped nanostructured material has a core and at least one shell surrounding the core, wherein the at least one shell comprises a first layer comprising a polymer having a catechol group, wherein the first layer defines the nanogap in the core-shell plasmonic nanostructured material, and a second layer comprises a metal disposed on the first layer. A method of preparing the core-shell plasmonic nanogap nanostructured material, and use of the core-shell plasmonic nanogap nanostructured material are also provided. As an embodiment, a polydopamine covalently bonded to a Raman probe or a fluorescent probe is used to prepare the first layer of the shell in said core-shell plasmonic nanogap nanostructured material, thereafter a gold shell is deposited onto the polydopamine to form a second layer of the shell. In present invention, it is demonstrated that the method is highly versatile and can be used for different core materials, including magnetic Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nanoparticles and metal-organic frameworks (MOF) nanoparticles. The potential application of said core-shell plasmonic nanogapped nanostructured in sensing and theranostics is also demonstrated.

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.

Compositions are provided comprising water-stable semi-conductor nanoplatelets encapsulated in a hydrophilic coating further comprising lipids and lipoproteins. Uses include biomolecular imaging and sensing, and methods of making comprise: colloidal synthesis of CdSe core NPLs; layer-by-layer growth of a CdS shell; and encapsulation of CdSe/CdScore/shell NPLs in lipid and lipoprotein components through an evaporation-encapsulation using zwitterionic phospholipids, detergents, and amphipathic membrane scaffold proteins.

The invention provides novel biocompatible upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) that comprises a core of cubic nanocrystals (e.g., comprising -Na Ln.sub.a, Ln.sub.b Ln.sub.c F.sub.4) and an epitaxial shell (e.g., formed from CaF.sub.2; wherein Ln.sub.b is Yb), and related methods of preparation and uses thereof.

Microvesicles play essential roles in disease progression. The present invention provides a microvesicle membrane protein and application thereof. Disclosed is a method comprising phosphorylated CSE1L (cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein)- or CSE1L-binding agents for microvesicle isolation, analysis, or binding for disease diagnosis.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for intraoperative imaging.

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.

The present invention relates to a nanocrystal having a core-shell structure, wherein the core comprises a core perovskite structure, and the shell comprises a shell perovskite structure and a compound comprising silicon and oxygen, wherein the shell per-ovskite structure is different from the core perovskite structure and comprises a low-dimensional perovskite structure that is doped 5 with a metal halide comprising a monovalent, divalent or trivalent metal ion. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the nanocrystal, a substrate comprising the nanocrystal and the use of the nanocrystal.