Techniques are generally described for particles with a surface including an adhesion material. The adhesion material may be selectively activated in response to radiation. The particles may be distributed proximate to a target through a fluid system. Radiation may be emitted toward the target causing the adhesion material to activate. The activated adhesive material on the surface of the particles may adhere to the target providing a fiducial mark or reference point. The fiducial mark may be visible through a medical imaging technique. In some examples, the particles may be nanoparticles. In some examples, the radiation may be infrared radiation.

A method for synthesizing ultrasmall gelatin nanoparticles. A first desolvation is conducted to produce gelatin strands in a first solution and then setting the pH of the solution to charge and separate the strands. Tripolyphosphate (TPP) is added to the first solution to form gelatin-TPP-gelatin bridges. Second desolvation of the gelatin-TPP-gelatin bridges is conducted in a second solution. The second solution contains an TPP-Ethanol:Acetone mixture in a ratio between 1:1 and 1:5 and TPP between 0.005-0.025 vol % or a Glutaraldehyde-Ethanol:Acetone mixture in a ratio of glutaraldehyde-ethanol:Acetone range of 2.5-12% v/v to produce a colloid of self-assembled gelatin nanoparticles. The method can produce nanomaterial consisting of a plurality of gelatin nanoparticles sized at 10 nm. The nanomaterial can encapsulate a drug, metal nanoparticle or contrast agent.

The present invention provides amphiphilic telodendrimers that aggregate to form nanocarriers characterized by a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic exterior. The nanocarrier core may include amphiphilic functionality such as cholic acid or cholic acid derivatives, and the exterior may include branched or linear poly(ethylene glycol) segments. Nanocarrier cargo such as hydrophobic drugs and other materials may be sequester in the core via non-covalent means or may be covalently bound to the telodendrimer building blocks. Telodendrimer structure may be tailored to alter loading properties, interactions with materials such as biological membranes, and other characteristics.

A nanoshell is disclosed, comprising a star polymer occlusion complex comprising i) an amphiphilic unimolecular star polymer having a crosslinked core covalently linked to 6 or more independent polymer arms, and ii) a cargo material occluded in the star polymer; and a shell comprising an inorganic material in contact with a peripheral surface of the star polymer occlusion complex.

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.

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 photo-activatable 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.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted compounds having formula (I), nanoclusters formed thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a plurality of these compounds, and methods for treating and detecting cancers in a subject are described herein.

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 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 cryopreserved 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.

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.