Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

Described herein are compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, isotopically labeled derivatives and radiolabeled derivative thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided are methods and kits involving the inventive compounds or compositions for detecting and imaging Tau aggregates in the brain for detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a subject.

Near-infrared (NIR) absorbing photosensitizers for imaging and treatment of cancer in a photodynamic therapy (PDT) are provided. Specifically, the NIR photosensitizers are mitochondria targeted and water-soluble, and used as a cytotoxic drug in a photodynamic therapy of the cancer. The NIR photosensitizers are activated with wavelengths of light, wherein the light penetrates through a body not just a skin. Hence the NIR photosensitizers aim to transform PDT from being a specialized treatment to a generally applicable one. PDT is almost completely non-invasive compared to current treatment methods.

A spectrally encoded fluorescence imaging system includes a multi-wavelength excitation light source emitting excitation light for illuminating a sample, optical components for introducing spectral encoding to focus different wavelengths of the excitation light at different positions in the sample to generate fluorescence at different, spatial positions, and band-shifting florescence imaging probes exhibiting excitation-dependent emission band, causing the fluorescence generated at different spatial positions to exhibit different band shifts, such that image information is encoded in the band-shifted fluorescence spectrums for parallel detection by a spectrometer or arrayed detectors operable to resolve different wavelengths.

A lipid-, polymer-, and metal-based system of modified nanostructures of active biomedical and pharmaceutical agents used for in vivo (whole body/organ or tissue-specific) imaging. The modified nanostructure system involves various combinations of excipients (lipids, oils, surfactant, polymers, metals, carbon, nanotubes, etc.) in a formulation that allows a user to: (1) sustain the bioluminescent, fluorescent, or contrast signal for a longer period than conventional systems without repetitive administration (e.g., nanostructure system of luciferin), (2) target specific sites of interest (e.g., organ, tissue, receptors, proteins, etc.) for enhanced imaging of the targeted site (e.g. nanostructure system of XenoLight DIR with CREKA allows imaging of tumor vasculature), and (3) increase bioluminescent, fluorescent, or contrast signal flux.

Provided herein are aggregation-induced emission luminogens useful as photodynamic therapy and imaging agents, compositions including two or more aggregation-induced emission luminogens, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of use and preparation thereof.

The disclosure provides NIR-II imaging probes and methods of using the NIR-II imaging probes for dynamic in vivo tracking of cells, such as stem cells, or other substances. NIR-II imaging probes can include a biocompatible NIR-II dye molecule coupled to an organic, biocompatible protein carrier complex, including a carrier protein coupled to a cell-penetrating peptide.

This invention provides an imaging method for detecting a volume of animal or human to obtain a fluorescence image of the volume. The method comprises steps of: treating the animal or human with an dosage form containing a dye encapsulated by a polymer; irradiating the volume of the animal or human by a light, and detecting a single photon, two- or multi-photon fluorescence emission light from the illuminated volume to obtain a fluorescence image, wherein a peak wavelength of the single photon fluorescence emission light of the dosage form is equal to or greater than 780 nm, or a peak wavelength of the two or multi-photon fluorescence emission light of the dosage form is equal to or greater than 800 nm. This invention further provides an imaging system employing the foregoing imaging method.

Compounds including triphenylamine and luminol moieties exhibiting near-infrared chemiluminescence useful as reactive oxygen sensors, pharmaceutical compositions including the same, and methods of preparation and use thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I) or (II), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof.

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