The present invention provides particulate contrast media for use in CT imaging. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention provides an enteric contrast medium formulation based on particles of low-Z elements selected from microparticles and nanoparticles. In various embodiments, the particles are coated with a material compatible with enteric administration of the formulation to a subject in need of such administration. The invention also provides methods for imaging of body parts simultaneously enhanced with contrast media of the invention and with other contrast media of a different type using CT imaging, including dual energy or spectral CT imaging. The invention also provides methods for the digital separation of CT signal produced by the contrast media of the invention from the CT signal produced by other contrast media or bodily tissues, to generate multiple resultant CT images with individual contrast materials subtracted or highlighted.

The present invention relates to injectable compositions. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to injectable, thermogelling hydrogel formulations comprising at least one antibiotic for relieving and/or treating low back pain.

The present invention relates to an emulsion composition for chemoembolization comprising a nanoparticle comprising a drug and a biocompatible polymer, a water-soluble contrast agent and a water-insoluble contrast agent, and a water-insoluble drug as well as an aqueous drug can be administered in a form of stable emulsion, and drugs are slowly released, thereby enhancing the effect of chemoembolization.

A composition in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion comprising: from 20% to 40% (v/v) of aqueous phase, in the form of droplets, comprising an anti-cancer agent and a densifying agent chosen from the complexes of nonionic macrocyclic chelate with a paramagnetic metal, from 60% to 80% (v/v) of lipid phase comprising an iodized oil and at least one surfactant of formula (I) in a proportion, by weight of surfactant relative to the total volume of the composition, of 0.3% to 5%, formula (I) of said surfactant being the following: ##STR00001##
in which: s is 0 or 1, m is an integer from 2 to 30, R.sub.1 represents a group of formula (II) ##STR00002## in which n is an integer from 4 to 10, o is an integer from 1 to 4, p is an integer from 3 to 7, q is an integer from 2 to 10, and r is 0 or 1, R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or is identical to R.sub.1, and each R.sub.3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or is identical to R.sub.1.

The present invention aims to dramatically increase the effect of hepatic arterial chemoembolization by developing human serum albumin-based nanoparticles, which are bioproteins that effectively carry Adriamycin in place of Adriamycin, an anticancer agent used in hepatic arterial chemoembolization. The human serum albumin nanoparticles carrying the Adriamycin not only intensively infiltrate the drug effectively into the cells but also have a synergistic effect that can induce a long-term therapeutic effect by utilizing the effect of continuous drug release from the particles.

An edible negative contrast agent for CT imaging of the gastrointestinal tract intended for oral intake. The contrast agent is a fluid, aqueous foam displaying a CT density contrast value in the range 300 to 800 HU and having a consistency of 7 to 12 cm as measured with Bostwick consistometer. The contrast agent comprises an aqueous continuous liquid phase having a pH of 6.5 to 8.0 and gas bubbles dispersed in the continuous aqueous liquid phase. The aqueous continuous liquid phase comprises a surfactant, the surfactant being a protein, a hydrocolloid acting as foam stabilizer, a buffering agent, and water.

The present invention relates to an embolizing emulsion comprising iodinated oil and an aqueous phase comprising a water-soluble contrast agent for use in the treatment of inflammatory hypervascularization associated with a musculoskeletal disorder.

The present invention relates to injectable compositions. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to injectable, thermogelling hydrogel formulations comprising at least one antibiotic for relieving and/or treating low back pain.

Systems, compositions, methods and kits employ protein shells, such as ferritin or viral capsid shells, herein called nanobubbles, to enhance X-ray images of cells or body tissue under certain x-ray imaging methods. The nanobubbles have sub-micron size such as about 10 nm, about 40, 60, or 100 nm and may be functionalized for effective delivery to or uptake by a target tissue, in vivo or a cell culture. The nanobubbles are hollow, having a central core which may be empty or contain a fluid, such that the shells effectively form long-lived bubbles in the imaged environment, and are of low electron density and have different scattering properties than the surrounding tissue. X-ray imaging by spatial frequency heterodyne imaging enhances visualization or detection of tissue regions bearing the shells. The protein shells may be further treated to assure biocompatibility and/or to resist undesired interactions with non-targeted tissue, such as scavenging by the liver, or attack by the immune system. For example the nanobubbles may be filled with a hydrophobic gas such as perfluoropropane (octafluoropropane) to maintain their shape and resist hydrophilic interactions and delay the degradation of the protein shells. The nanobubbles may also be coated or treated by a surface-functionalization processes to effectively target specific tissues or tumor types, allow parenteral delivery, and/or deliver drugs or other agents to the imaged sitesso that when visualized by X-ray scatter imaging the presence of the nanobubbles indicates the existence and extent of the tumor or diseased tissue.

A composition in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion comprising: from 20% to 40% (v/v) of aqueous phase, in the form of droplets, comprising an anti-cancer agent and a densifying agent chosen from the complexes of nonionic macrocyclic chelate with a paramagnetic metal, from 60% to 80% (v/v) of lipid phase comprising an iodized oil and at least one surfactant of formula (I) in a proportion, by weight of surfactant relative to the total volume of the composition, of 0.3% to 5%, formula (I) of said surfactant being the following:

##STR00001##

in which: s is 0 or 1, m is an integer from 2 to 30, R.sub.1 represents a group of formula (II)

##STR00002## in which n is an integer from 4 to 10, o is an integer from 1 to 4, p is an integer from 3 to 7, q is an integer from 2 to 10, and r is 0 or 1, R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or is identical to R.sub.1, and each R.sub.3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or is identical to R.sub.1.