There is described herein a bilayer nanovesicle comprising porphyrin-phospholipid conjugate and a chelator-fatty acid conjugate; wherein the chelator-fatty acid conjugate comprises an aminopolycarboxylic acid conjugated to a single chain fatty acid; and the porphyrin-phospholipid conjugate comprises one porphyrin, porphyrin derivative or porphyrin analog covalently attached to a lipid side chain, preferably at the sn-1 or the sn-2 position, of one phospholipid.

Advancements in solid tumor (e.g., renal cell carcinoma) treatments and imaging are described. The advancements are based on nanoformulations that: (i) overcome deliverability issues associated with anti-cancer compounds; (ii) have increased targeted delivery to tumors, and hypoxic cores of tumors due to the presence of targeting ligands; (iii) have increased delivery to the hypoxic cores of tumors due to engineered shapes; (iv) provide synergistic treatment combinations; and/or (v) overcome cancer cell resistance to therapeutic treatments.

Provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of cypate-Cyclo(Cys-Gly-Arg-Asp-Ser-Pro-Cys)-Lys-OH (LS301), cypate-Cyclo(Cys-Gly-Arg-Asp-Ser-Pro-Cys)-Tyr-OH (LS838) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein each amino acid residue is independently in a D or L configuration; a divalent metal ion; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided are lyophilized products comprising a dye-conjugate and m methods for identifying compromised and for binding phosphorylated annexin A2 (pANXA2) protein in a biological sample using a composition described herein.

A medical tissue-marker which enables the identification of a location even from the outside of an organ, can remain topical over a long period, and enables the easy identification of a marked location within the whole organ; also a manufacturing method for the medical tissue-marker. The medical tissue-marker includes a vesicle formed by the synthesis of a phospholipid and a near infrared fluorescent dye, and an emulsion formed by the synthesis of the phospholipid and an X-ray contrast medium, and has agglomerated clusters wherein the vesicle and the emulsion are contained in a hydrophilic solvent and a plurality of capsules are formed by use of an emulsifier.

Disclosed is a near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent comprising an indocyanine-based fluorescent dye and a liposome. The near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent of the present invention demonstrates high fluorescence intensity and a long anchoring time in sentinel lymph nodes, thereby making it useful for detecting sentinel lymph nodes in sentinel lymph node navigation surgery. Also disclosed is an indocyanine green derivative that is particularly suitable for use in the near-infrared fluorescent imaging agent of the present invention.

The present invention provides lipid nanoparticles that are amenable to an irradiation at a wavelength at or above 850 nm, have an absorption peak from about 850 to 1100 nm wavelength, and comprise a high transition temperature lipid and a dye (e.g., a J-aggregate of a dye). In some embodiments, the dye (e.g., J-aggregate of the dye) is encapsulated in the lipid nanoparticle. In various embodiments, the present invention also relates to compositions comprising said lipid nanoparticles and methods of generating said lipid nanoparticles and compositions thereof. The present invention further relates to methods relating to the said lipid nanoparticles for imaging, detection, and treatment of diseases or disorders (e.g., phototherapy) in a subject.

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.

Metastable liposomal formulations for hydrophobic drug delivery to a tissue or tissue lumen such the bladder have been developed. These are at least one micron in diameter and formed of one or more lipids having entrapped in the lipid a hydrophobic therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent. The greater stability of these liposomes, as well as the enhanced transfer of entrapped agent into the adjacent tissue, provides for better delivery, especially of hydrophobic agents such as tacrolimus which does not penetrate tissue well. The metastable liposomal formulations can be administered locally, preferably by instillation, or topically, for example, by spraying or painting, to a tissue or tissue lumen such as the bladder in need of treatment.

Presented herein are methods of using encapsulated J-aggregates of indocyanine green (ICG) as a ratiometric sensor of biological activity. Upon interaction with a biological phenomenon of interest, the encapsulated J-aggregates can be released and dissolved upon rupture, inducing a detectable hypsochromic shift in the absorption spectra and corresponding increase in fluorescence. Various imaging techniques can be employed to visualize this sensor including photoacoustic imaging, two-photon imaging, fluorescence imaging, near infrared imaging, and a variety of other optical or optics-based techniques. Additionally, if the J-aggregates of ICG are also encapsulated with drugs or therapeutic molecules, the ratiometric sensing using ICG can be used to confirm drug release and delivery.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drug delivery system capable of sustainedly releasing a drug noninvasively at any given point in time. The present invention relates to a liposome complex comprising a liposome membrane-constituting substance bonded to a light-absorbing compound having an absorption wavelength in the near-infrared region, selected from the group consisting of indocyanine green dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, squarylium dyes, croconium dyes, and diimmonium dyes.