The present disclosure provides activatable and detectable membrane-interacting peptides that, following activation, can interact with phospholipid bilayers, such as cell membranes. The present disclosure also provides methods of use of such compounds. The compounds of the present disclosure are of the general structure X.sup.1a-A-X.sup.2-Z-X.sup.1b, where A is a membrane-interacting peptide region having a plurality of nonpolar hydrophobic amino acid residues that, following separation from portions Z, is capable of interaction with a phospholipid bilayer; Z is an inhibitory peptide region that can inhibit the activity of portion A; X.sup.2 is a cleavable linker that can be cleaved to release cleavage products from the compound; and X.sup.1a and X.sup.1b are optionally-present chemical handles that facilitate conjugation of various cargo moieties to the compound. Prior to cleavage of the composition at X.sup.2, the composition acts as a promolecule that does not associate with cellular membranes to a significant or detectable level. Following cleavage at cleavable linker X.sup.2, the cleavage product including portion A is free to interact with a phospholipid bilayer (e.g., a cell membrane), and thus accumulate at a site associated with a cleavage-promoting environment. Detection of the membrane-associated cleavage product can be accomplished by detection of a moiety attached through X.sup.1a and/or X.sup.1b. Such compositions can be used in a variety of methods, including, for example, use in directly imaging active clotting within a subject.

Disclosed herein is a selective delivery molecule comprising: (a) an acidic sequence (portion A) which is effective to inhibit or prevent the uptake into cells or tissue retention, (b) a molecular transport or tissue retention sequence (portion B), and (c) a linker between portion A and portion B, and (d) cargo moieties (portion D.sub.A and D.sub.B).

The invention relates to novel tricarbocyanine-cyclodextrin(s) conjugates useful as markers in the diagnosis of kidney diseases, diagnostic compositions comprising the conjugates, their use, and their production.

The disclosed compositions and methods relate to an immunogenic composition that, in certain aspects, comprise cationic liposomes; a mixture of toll like receptor 3 (TLR3) and toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) ligands; and a cellular adhesion agent, and methods of using such compositions. In certain aspects, disclosed compositions are administered to a mammal to induce a non-specific innate immune response at mucosal surfaces. In further aspects, disclosed compositions are administered to a mammal in conjunction with an antigen to enhance the immune response of the mammal to the antigen.

This disclosure relates saccharide analogs such as thiomaltose-based analogs for targeting bacteria and related uses. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of transferring a molecule of interest into bacteria comprising mixing bacteria with a non-naturally occurring conjugate, wherein the conjugate comprises a thiomaltose-based analog and a molecule of interest under conditions such that the conjugate is transported across the bacterial cell wall. In certain embodiments, the molecule of interest can be a tracer or an antibiotic.

A method and apparatus for determining physiological data related to an animal, such as kidney diagnostics data, is provided. The method includes injecting a mixture of a first and a second molecule into an animal (e.g., a human patient), determining a molecular ratio of the molecules, and determining the physiological data based on the molecular ratio. The apparatus includes a number of finger receiving apertures, a light generation circuit, a light detection circuit, a pulse counting circuit, and a user interface.

A dendrimer formation, such as a PAMAM dendrimer or a multiarm PEG polymeric formulation has been developed for systemic administration to the brain or central nervous system. In the preferred embodiment, the dendrimers are in the form of dendrimer nanoparticles comprising poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) hydroxyl-terminated dendrimers covalently linked to at least one therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent for treatment of one or more symptoms of neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental or neurological disorders such as Rett syndrome or autism spectrum disorders, D6 generation dendrimers provide significantly enhanced uptake into areas of brain Injury, providing a means for diagnosis as well, as drug delivery.

Disclosed herein are unique single stranded DNA oligonucleotide products identified as binding with high affinity and specificity to ovarian tumor cells that may be used in the delivery of therapy to and diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

A compound includes at least one targeting peptide coupled to a detectable moiety. The targeting peptide binds to EDB-FN or EDA-FN and includes at least one of amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-30.

Certain aspects of the present invention relates to microcapsules comprising a core; and a hydrophobic, cross-linked polymeric shell, as well as method for making and using same. Some embodiments of the present invention relate to microcapsules comprising a core; and a hydrophobic, cross-linked polymeric shell. These microcapsules can be used in a variety of applications, including agriculture, encapsulation of food ingredients, health care, cosmetics (e.g., perfumes, detergents, and sunscreen), coatings (e.g., paints and pigments), additives, catalysis, and oil recovery.