A technique for preparing a nanoplatform-based tumor-targeted diagnostic contrast agent which enables precise local diagnosis of cancer lesions is provided. The nanoplatform-based tumor-targeted diagnostic contrast agent can avoid the situation in which normal tissue is unnecessarily excised or tumor tissue is not excised when tumor removal surgery is performed under fluorescence image guidance, and can be visualized by emitting light under near-infrared ray induction as the contrast agent is directly applied to the local area and then quickly and accurately penetrates/is absorbed into the cancer lesion so that a clinical surgeon efficiently and conveniently performs surgery in an operating room during laparoscopic surgery with minimal incision or open surgery according to the occurrence site and progression of cancer.

The present invention provides methods for preparing acoustically-sensitive microbubbles. The method includes the steps of: i) preparing a first surfactant solution comprising a first micelle-forming surfactant at a concentration above the critical micelle concentration (CMC); ii) adding one or more pharmaceutical compounds in a solvent to the first surfactant solution, thereby loading the micelles with the one or more pharmaceutical compounds; iii) preparing a second surfactant solution comprising a second surfactant, wherein the second surfactant comprises one or more matrix forming surfactants; iv) adding heat to the second surfactant solution to melt the surfactant and allowing the mixture to cool under rapid stirring; v) combining the second surfactant solution with the loaded micelles; vi) purging the surfactant mixture with a purging gas; vii) agitating the purged mixture under a constant stream of the purging gas; and, viii) separating the formed microbubbles by size.

Provided herein are therapeutic peptides. In some aspects, therapeutic peptides are provided that can alter EphB4/EFNB2 signaling and can be used to treat a cancer. In some embodiments, the peptides are comprised in nanoparticles, such as core-cross-linked polymeric micelles (CCPM).

An embodiment of the present invention provides a nanocarrier in a micelle structure, a pharmaceutical composition for diagnosis of cancer, comprising the same nanocarrier, and a method for preparing the same nanocarrier. The nanocarrier is obtained by dispersing a water-in-oil nanoemulsion containing an oil phase ingredient, a surfactant, and an aqueous phase ingredient inclusive of a cancer cell fluorescence-inducing substance and a cancer cell-targeting polysaccharide in water to remove the oil phase ingredient, whereby the nanocarrier includes the aqueous phase ingredient.

Described herein are compositions that include an assembly of self-assembling conjugates. The self-assembling conjugates may include a polypeptide having a transition temperature (17) above 50° C. when the polypeptide is not attached to the conjugate, an albumin binding domain (ABD) attached to a first end of the polypeptide, and at least one molecule attached to a second end of the polypeptide through a cysteine group, wherein the molecule has an octanol-water distribution coefficient (log D) of greater than or equal to 1.5 at a pH of 7.4 when the molecule is not attached to the conjugate. Also described herein are methods of using the compositions.

The present invention relates to a nanocarrier for targeted therapy and/or diagnosis of a prostate cancer cell, the nanocarrier including a micelle including a phosphate surfactant represented by a specific Chemical Formula. The micelle including the phosphate surfactant constituting the nanocarrier for targeted therapy and/or diagnosis of the prostate cancer cell according to the present invention is cleaved by the overexpressed enzyme in the vicinity of the prostate cancer cell, so that therapeutic agent or diagnostic agent particles loaded on the micelle are capable of being selectively released to the prostate cancer cell. Therefore, it is possible to maximize the therapeutic and/or diagnostic effects while remarkably reducing the side effects of the drug in the living body compared to a conventional technology.

Provided herein are block copolymers comprising a hydrophilic polymer segment and a hydrophobic polymer segment, wherein the hydrophilic polymer segment comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methacrylate phosphatidyl choline) (MPC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), wherein the hydrophobic polymer segment comprises ##STR00001##
wherein R′ is —H or —CH.sub.3, wherein R is —NR.sup.1R.sup.2, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together have from 5 to 16 carbons, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may optionally join to form a ring, wherein n is 1 to about 10, and wherein x is about 20 to about 200 in total. Also provided are pH-sensitive micelle compositions for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Provided herein are block copolymers comprising a hydrophilic polymer segment and a hydrophobic polymer segment, wherein the hydrophilic polymer segment comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methacrylate phosphatidyl choline) (MPC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), wherein the hydrophobic polymer segment comprises

##STR00001##

wherein R′ is —H or —CH.sub.3, wherein R is —NR.sup.1R.sup.2, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are alkyl groups, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together have from 5 to 16 carbons, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may optionally join to form a ring, wherein n is 1 to about 10, and wherein x is about 20 to about 200 in total. Also provided are pH-sensitive micelle compositions for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

The present invention relates to methods for increasing absorption of compounds of interest by nematode worms through the design of carrier systems containing said compound of interest and expressing chemoattractive tags at their surface.

The present invention provides a fluorescent molecular probe for efficient fluorescent detection (visualization) of tumors or for implementing fluorescent detection and photodynamic treatment, more specifically, the present invention provides a macromolecular fluorescent molecular probe for fluorescent detection of tumor, comprising a complex comprising a fluorescent molecule and a biocompatible macromolecule.