The present invention provides a fluorescent silica-based nanoparticle that allows for precise detection, characterization, monitoring and treatment of a disease such as cancer. The nanoparticle has a range of diameters including between about 0.1 nm and about 100 nm, between about 0.5 nm and about 50 nm, between about 1 nm and about 25 nm, between about 1 nm and about 15 nm, or between about 1 nm and about 8 nm. The nanoparticle has a fluorescent compound positioned within the nanoparticle, and has greater brightness and fluorescent quantum yield than the free fluorescent compound. The nanoparticle also exhibits high biostability and biocompatibility. To facilitate efficient urinary excretion of the nanoparticle, it may be coated with an organic polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The small size of the nanoparticle, the silica base and the organic polymer coating minimizes the toxicity of the nanoparticle when administered in vivo. In order to target a specific cell type, the nanoparticle may further be conjugated to a ligand, which is capable of binding to a cellular component associated with the specific cell type, such as a tumor marker. In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent may be attached to the nanoparticle. To permit the nanoparticle to be detectable by not only optical fluorescence imaging, but also other imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computerized tomography (CT), bioluminescence imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radionuclides/radiometals or paramagnetic ions may be conjugated to the nanoparticle.

A compound comprising a prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting moiety of the following formula or of a salt or a solvate thereof. R.sup.0 is O or S. Each of R.sup.1a, R.sup.1b and R.sup.1c may be —CO.sub.2H, —SO.sub.2H, —SO.sub.3H, —PO.sub.2H, or —PO.sub.3H.sub.2, for example. R.sup.2 may be methylene or a derivative thereof, propylene or a derivative thereof, or a derivative of ethylene, optionally substituted. R.sup.3 is a linker. When the PSMA-targeting moiety is linked to a radiolabeling group, the compound may be used as an imaging agent or therapeutic agent for PSMA-expressing diseases/conditions.

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The invention generally relates to a smart drug delivery system for dual nuclear medical cytotoxic theranostics incorporating either (i) a first compound with the structure CT-L1-Chel-S1-TV or

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or (ii) a second compound with the structure Chel-S-TV and a third compound with the structure CT-L-TV. In the first, second and third compounds Chel is a radical of a chelating agent for complexing a radioisotope; CT is a radical of a cytotoxic compound; TV is a biological targeting vector; L1 and L are each linkers; S1, S2 and S are each spacers.

In a compound of the present invention, in a macroscopic view of a chemical structure thereof, a chelating moiety is located at the center of the structure, an atomic group containing an albumin binding moiety binds to one side of the chelating moiety, and an atomic group containing a target molecule binding moiety binds to the other side of the chelating moiety. The chelating moiety is also preferably DOTA or a derivative thereof. The target molecule binding moiety preferably has a structure to bind to a target molecule expressed in a cancer tissue. The present invention also provides a radioactive labeled compound in which the compound is coordinated to a radioactive metal ion.

A gastrin analogue shows high uptake in CCK-2 receptor positive tumors and simultaneously a very low accumulation in the kidneys. This is achieved by a mini-gastrin analogue PP-F11 having the formula: PP-F11-X-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Trp-Y-Asp-Phe-NH.sub.2, wherein Y is an amino acid replacing methionine and X is a chemical group attached to the peptide for diagnostic and/or therapeutic intervention at CCK-2 receptor relevant diseases. Very suitable compounds with respect to a high tumor to kidney ratio are mini-gastrin analogues with six D-glutamic acids or six glutamines. These compounds still possess a methionine which can be oxidized easily which is a disadvantage for clinical application under GMP due to the forms which may occur. The elimination of the methionine leads to a lower affinity to oxidation which in general favors the tumor-kidney-ratio. Ideally, the methionine is replaced by norleucine. This PP-F11N mini gastrin exhibits currently the best tumor-kidney-ratio and is the most promising candidate.

The present invention provides in certain embodiments a carcinoma-targeting conjugate comprising Formula I wherein T is a SST2R targeting ligand, L is a linker, and X is a chelator, for the therapeutic treatment of cancer, and methods of use thereof.

The present invention is related to a compound comprising a cyclic peptide

of formula (I)

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and an N-terminal modification group A attached to Xaa1,
wherein
each and any one of Xaa1, Xaa2, Xaa3, Xaa4, Xaa5, Xaa6 and Xaa7 is a residue of an amino acid, and
Yc is a structure of formula (X)

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The disclosure provides multifunctional compounds for use in medical imaging and therapy, the compounds comprising two or more of (i) a chelating ligand moiety (CL); (ii) an optical probe moiety (OP); and (iii) a biological targeting moiety (BT). The disclosure further provides related compositions and methods.

Shielding enzymes are made by modifying the enzyme surface with silica precursors and then depositing silica to a desired thickness while retaining biological activity of the enzyme.

The present disclosure relates to imaging and endoradiotherapy of diseases involving chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). Provided are compounds which bind or inhibit CXCR4 and furthermore carry at least one moiety which is amenable to labeling. Provided are also medical uses of such compounds.