Multivalent CT or MR contrast agents and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The agents contain a moiety, such as a polymer, that provides multivalent attachment of CT or MR contrast agents. Examples include, but are not limited to, multivalent linear polymers, branched polymers, or hyperbranched polymers, such as dendrimers, and combinations thereof. The dendrimer is functionalized with one or more high Z-elements, such as iodine. The high Z-elements can be covalently or non-covalently bound to the dendrimer. The dendrimers are confined in order to enhance CT contrast. In some embodiments, the moiety is confined by encapsulating the dendrimers in a material to form particles, such as nanoparticles. In other embodiments, the dendrimer is confined by conjugating the moiety to a material, such as a polymer, which forms a gel upon contact with bodily fluids.

Disclosed is a -cyclodextrin-based star-shaped polymer and a preparation method therefor, and an integrated unimolecular micelle system for diagnosis and treatment based on the star-shaped polymer and the use thereof. The polymer has a structure represented by the following formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein x=4-15, y=3-20, and z=10-30.

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating a drug involved in angiogenesis. The method includes a drug administration step (A) of administering a drug involved in angiogenesis to a subject having a lesion. The method further includes: an imaging step (1) of performing radiography on a subject in a state where metal nanoparticles are present in a blood vessel or an imaging step (2) of performing fluorescence staining and fluorescence imaging using a dimeric protein; and evaluating the drug using an image acquired in the imaging step (1) or (2).

A system and method for imaging or treating a disease in a human or animal body. The system provides to the human or animal body a pharmaceutical carrier including one or more phosphors which are capable of emitting ultraviolet or visible light into the body and which provide x-ray contrast. The system includes one or more devices which infuse a diseased site with a photoactivatable drug and the pharmaceutical carrier, an initiation energy source comprising an x-ray or high energy source which irradiates the diseased site with at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to thereby initiate emission of said ultraviolet or visible light into the body, and a processor programmed to at least one of 1) produce images of the diseased site or 2) control a dose of said x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to the diseased site for production of said ultraviolet or visible light at the diseased site to activate the photoactivatable drug.

A method of detecting migration of tumor cells is provided by implanting in a region of tumor cells one or more implants having a matrix material of a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix material and functionalized to bind tumor cells. Nanoparticles bound to the tumor cells that have migrated out of the region can be detected by various imaging modalities. The implant can be in the shape of a brachytherapy spacer or radiotherapy fiducial maker or can be a coating on a brachytherapy spacer or fiducial marker. A method of treating cancer is provided by implanting one or more brachytherapy spacers or fiducial markers including the matrix material and an anti-cancer therapeutic agent dispersed within the matrix material.

The present invention provides preparations of MSCs with important therapeutic potential. The MSC cells are non-primary cells with an antigen profile comprising less than about 1.25% CD45+ cells (or less than about 0.75% CD45+), at least about 95% CD105+ cells, and at least about 95% CD166+ cells. Optionally, MSCs of the present preparations are isogenic and can be expanded ex vivo and cryo-preserved and thawed, yet maintain a stable and uniform phenotype. Methods are taught here of expanding these MSCs to produce a clinical scale therapeutic preparations and medical uses thereof.

A system and method for imaging or treating a disease in a human or animal body. The system provides to the human or animal body a pharmaceutical carrier including one or more phosphors which are capable of emitting ultraviolet or visible light into the body and which provide x-ray contrast. The system includes one or more devices which infuse a diseased site with a photoactivatable drug and the pharmaceutical carrier, an initiation energy source comprising an x-ray or high energy source which irradiates the diseased site with at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to thereby initiate emission of said ultraviolet or visible light into the body, and a processor programmed to at least one of 1) produce images of the diseased site or 2) control a dose of said x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to the diseased site for production of said ultraviolet or visible light at the diseased site to activate the photoactivatable drug.

The present invention includes a composition, method, method of making, and a kit for using an enteric contrast agent formulation comprising an enteric contrast medium comprising particles comprising atoms of an element with an atomic number from 70 to 77, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle in which the particles are dispersed.

Provided herein are methods for reducing neoplastic progenitor cell proliferation and alleviating symptoms associated in individuals diagnosed with or thought to have Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). Also provided herein are methods for using telomerase inhibitors for maintaining blood platelet counts at relatively normal ranges in the blood of individuals diagnosed with or suspected of having ET.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for use in medical diagnosis and patient monitoring. It more particularly relates to a biocompatible gel comprising nanoparticles and/or nanoparticle aggregates, wherein: i) the nanoparticles and/or nanoparticles of said aggregate comprise an inorganic material comprising at least one metal element having an atomic number Z of at least 25, each of said nanoparticles and nanoparticle aggregates being covered with a biocompatible coating; ii) the nanoparticles' and/or nanoparticle aggregates' concentration is of about or less than 0.5% (w/w); and iii) the apparent viscosity at 2 s.sup.1 of the gel comprising the nanoparticles and/or nanoparticle aggregates is between about 0.1 Pa.Math.s and about 1000 Pa.Math.s when measured between 20 C. and 37 C. The composition of the invention typically allows the delineation and visualization of at least 40% of the target biological tissue when said tissue is observed using an X-ray imaging equipment.