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 novel near-IR emitting cationic silver chalcogenide quantum dot with a mixed coating wherein the coating comprises of at least 2 different types of materials and is capable of luminescence at the desired near IR bandwidth at wavelengths of 800-850 nm. The quantum dot is fabricated via an advantageous single-step, homogeneous, aqueous method at a low temperature resulting a near IR emitting semiconductor quantum dot with high Quantum Yield, high transfection with low toxicity. The quantum dots may be used in medical imaging, tumor detection, drug delivery and labeling as well as in quantum dot sensitized solar cells.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of antigen to liver cells, in particular, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) and/or Kupffer cells, and for the in vivo generation of regulatory T cells, notably CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases, allergies or other chronic inflammatory conditions, and for generation of regulatory T cells. The nanoparticles used in the invention comprise a) a micelle comprising an amphiphilic polymer rendering the nanoparticle water-soluble, and b) a peptide comprising at least one T cell epitope associated with the outside of the micelle. The micelle may or may not comprise a solid hydrophobic core.

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.

Disclosed are cell membrane-derived nanovesicles, a method of preparing the nanovesicles, and a pharmaceutical composition and a diagnostic kit using the nanovesicles. The cell membrane-derived nanovesicles may prevent potential adverse effects because intracellular materials (e.g., genetic materials and cytosolic proteins) unnecessary for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic substances are removed from the nanovesicles. In addition, as the nanovesicles may be targeted to specific cells or tissues, therapeutic or diagnostic substances may be predominantly delivered to the targeted cells or tissues, while delivery of the substances may be inhibited. Therefore, the nanovesicles may alleviate suffering and inconvenience of patients by reducing adverse effects of therapeutic substances and by improving efficacy of the substances. In addition, the cell membrane-derived nanovesicles loaded with therapeutic or diagnostic substances and a method of preparing the nanovesicles may be used in vitro or in vivo for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, or for experimental use.

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.

Methods and compositions to controllably regulate cells at a target site. A quantum dot-targeting agent complex is administered to a patient in need of therapy, and the complex is stimulated using an implanted fiber optic system. In embodiments, the system includes an electrical sensor that detects and monitors electrical activity of the stimulated controllably regulated cells, and relays this information to a controller that can regulate further stimulation.

The present disclosure relates to a method of treating cancer using a composition including a target-specific self-illuminative nanocomplex which includes a self-illuminative nanocomplex including a quantum dot and a modified self-illuminative protein (m-Rluc8), a targeted cancer-specific molecule and a hydrophilic polymer, and a method of preparing the composition. Since the high efficiency self-illuminative nanocomplex may have high target specificity by chemically binding to a target-specific molecule, it can be effectively used in cancer treatment using a nanometer-scale laser light source, and therefore it is expected to propose a new paradigm of nanoptic therapeutics.

Provided are a hydrophilic particle, a method for manufacturing the same, and a contrasting agent using the same. More specifically, the hydrophilic particle according to the inventive concept may include a hydrophobic particle, and an amphiphilic organic dye directly absorbed on a surface of the hydrophobic particle. In this case, the hydrophobic particle includes a center particle, and a hydrophobic ligand covering a surface of the center particle, and the amphiphilic organic dye may be combined to the hydrophobic ligand by a hydrophobic interaction. The hydrophilic particle may have a surface zeta potential lower than a surface zeta potential of the amphiphilic organic dye.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of antigen to liver cells, in particular, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) and/or Kupffer cells, and for the in vivo generation of regulatory T cells, notably CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases, allergies or other chronic inflammatory conditions, and for generation of regulatory T cells. The nanoparticles used in the invention comprise a) a micelle comprising an amphiphilic polymer rendering the nanoparticle water-soluble, and b) a peptide comprising at least one T cell epitope associated with the outside of the micelle. The micelle may or may not comprise a solid hydrophobic core.