A method of imaging cancer stem cells comprises disposing a population of first ultrasound-switchable fluorophorms having a first switching threshold in the biological environment, the first ultrasound-switchable fluorophores being functionalized for attachment to a first biomarker expressed by the CSCs; disposing a population of second ultrasound-switchable fluorophorms having a second switching threshold in the biological environment, the second ultrasound-switchable fluorophores being functionalized for attachment to a second biomarker expressed by the CSCs; exposing the biological environment to an ultrasound beam to form an activation region; disposing one or more of the first and/or second ultrasound-switchable fluorophores in the activation region to switch the first and/or second fluorophores from an off state to an on state; exciting the first and second ultrasound-switchable fluorophores in the activation region with a beam of electromagnetic radiation; and detecting light emitted by the first and second ultrasound-switchable fluorophores.

An antimicrobial composition suitable for use on human skin and containing a UV-detectable compound that will allow for detection of the application of the composition, using a UV-light source. A kit comprising such an antimicrobial composition and a UV-light source.

The present disclosure relates to a solution comprising a water insoluble carbohydrate and a fluorescent dye, such as a near infrared (NIR) contrast agent, wherein the solution sets under aqueous conditions, such as in vivo, to form e.g. a gel, a glass, a semi-solid, a solid, a crystal or any mixtures thereof. The disclosure further relates to preparation of such solution and use of such solution for in vivo imaging and/or guidance of surgery or interventional therapeutic procedures.

A conjugate containing a fluorescent chromophore, which has any structure selected from C1 to C3. The conjugate containing the fluorescent chromophore provided by the described embodiments includes one fluorescent chromophore and two highly reactive groups R1 and R2 linked to the fluorescent chromophore by a covalent bond. The fluorescent chromophore in the conjugate initially has no or only weak fluorescence emission capability, and only after the two highly reactive groups react together with the corresponding molecule, the fluorescent chromophore has strong fluorescence emission. Therefore, the efficiency of conjugation of drug molecules to targeting molecules can be monitored in situ by the infrared fluorescence emission intensity and applied to the target-mediated drug delivery. ##STR00001##

Small molecule compounds having aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics include donor-acceptor (D-A) structural NIR fluorophores based on 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylene)indan (BDCI), a strong and steric electron-deficient acceptor. A twisted quasi-double bond (TQDB) links each electron donor with the acceptor. The compounds can be used as NIR-II fluorescent dyes for in vivo imaging. The compounds can conjugate with bioactive molecules, such as peptides, sugars, aptamers and antibodies, to provide specific and active NIR-II fluorescent probes. The compounds can serve as active NIR-II fluorescent probes in many applications, such as, cancer cell-targeted imaging, accurate diagnosis of disease, and image-guided phototherapy.

Antibiotic compounds having both antibiotic and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The compounds comprise an azole antibiotic unit, for example naphthalimide triazole (NT), and an AIE unit, for example triphenylethylene (TriPE). The compounds act as an effective AIEgen with ROS generating capabilities. The present combinations of an azole antibiotic unit and an AIE unit do not negatively affect the antibacterial properties of the azole. Accordingly, the present compounds exterminate bacteria with both the antibacterial mechanism of the azole along with the ROS produced when the AIE unit is exposed to light. In addition, the intrinsic imagining ability of the present compounds enables them to be used as imaging tools to monitor the drug-bacteria interaction. Collectively, the present compounds provide multiple functions including imaging, monitoring, and bacterial infection inhibition for integrated diagnosis and treatment in clinical practices.

Disclosed herein is a method of use of colored dye in ophthalmic surgery. In one embodiment the colored dye is fluorescent. In another embodiment the fluorescent dye is combined with viscoelastic gel for anterior segment eye surgery.

This invention provides a class of dual mode imaging tracer capable of acting both as a fluorescent imaging tracer and a positron emission tomography imaging tracer. Tracers in accordance with this invention generally have a fluorescent core with a boron-fluoride element embedded therein. Exemplary embodiments of the tracer include .sup.18F-labeled BODIPY compounds and derivative thereof. Also provided are tracer kits containing a sterile formulation of a BODIPY dye either in a radio-labeled or pre-labeled state, and methods for imaging heart perfusion using the .sup.18F-labeled dual mode tracers.

The instant invention provides near-infrared fluorescent biological contrast agents and methods of using them.

Compositions and methods for assessing gut function are disclosed. They are designed to provide accurate, rapid, point-of-care or in-community assessment of enteric dysfunction.