The present invention provides a molecular assembly whose retention time in a target site is adjusted depending on the kind or purpose of a labeling agent or drug encapsulated therein, and a molecular assembly that can suppress the ABC phenomenon and that can be administered more than once within a short span. A molecular assembly comprising: a branched-type amphiphilic block polymer A comprising a branched hydrophilic block comprising sarcosine and a hydrophobic block comprising a polylactic acid chain; and a functional substance F comprising a functional site and a polylactic acid chain, wherein the polylactic acid chain constituting the hydrophobic block of the amphiphilic block polymer A comprises L-lactic acid units, and the polylactic acid chain contained in the functional substance F comprises D-lactic acid units, or the polylactic acid chain constituting the hydrophobic block of the amphiphilic block polymer A comprises D-lactic acid units, and the polylactic acid chain contained in the functional substance F comprises L-lactic acid units.

The invention relates to compositions of DOTA derivative compounds, lanthanoid-DOTA derivative molecular complex, and lanthanoid-complex encapsulated solid lipid particles or capsules, and methods of making and using the compositions. The solid lipid particles or capsules contain micelle cores stabilized by a hyperbranched polymer shell based from a crosslinked DOTA derivative compound or crosslinked lanthanoid-DOTA derivative complex. These solid lipid particles or capsules can be used in various applications, such as contrast agents or drug delivery vehicles.

The present invention relates to new molecular design that allows micelles to report their activation and disassembly by an enzymatic trigger. The molecular design is based on introduction of a labeling moiety selected from a fluorescent dye, a dark quencher, combinations of dyes or dyes/quenchers, and a fluorinated moiety (a .sup.19F-magenetic resonance (MR) probe for turn ON/OFF of a .sup.19F-MR signal) through covalent binding to the focal point of amphiphilic polymer-dendron hybrids with the labeling moiety. At the assembled micellar state, the dyes are closely packed and hence the probability for intermolecular interactions increases significantly, leading to alteration of the fluorescent properties (signal quench or shift) or the .sup.19F-MR signal (OFF state) of the micelles. Upon enzymatic cleavage of the hydrophobic end-groups from enzyme-responsive dendron, the polymers become hydrophilic and disassemble. This structural change is then translated into a spectral change as dye-dye interactions are halted and the dyes regain their intrinsic fluorescent properties, or alternatively by turn ON the .sup.19F-MR signal. The high modularity of the design allows the introduction of various types of dyes and thus enables rational adjustment of the spectral response. Two major types of responses are described: Turn-On/Off and spectral shift, depending on the type of labeling dye. The present invention further provides methods of use of the hybrid delivery system and to a kit comprising the same.

The invention relates to water-soluble nanoparticles and methods for making such nanoparticles. Specifically, the invention relates to dendrimerization to enhance the solubility of nanoparticles.

The present disclosure relates to a liquid pharmaceutical formulation comprising a DO3A-derived tetra-chelate of formula (I), in which M is an ion of a paramagnetic metal, preferably a Gd.sup.3+ ion, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are as defined in the claims, in a pharmaceutical acceptable solvent. The present disclosure also relates to a method of preparation of said liquid pharmaceutical formulation and to a method of imaging involving said liquid pharmaceutical formulation.

The present disclosure relates to a liquid pharmaceutical formulation comprising a DO3A-derived tetra-chelate of formula (I), in which M is an ion of a paramagnetic metal, preferably a Gd.sup.3+ ion, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are as defined in the claims, in a pharmaceutical acceptable solvent. The present disclosure also relates to a method of preparation of said liquid pharmaceutical formulation and to a method of imaging involving said liquid pharmaceutical formulation.

Provided are macrocyclic compounds and compounds with two or more macrocyclic groups, iron coordinated macrocyclic compounds, and iron coordinated compounds with two or more macrocyclic groups. The iron is high-spin iron(III). The iron coordinated compounds may exhibit a negative redox potential (e.g., relative to a normal hydrogen electrode at a biologically relevant pH, for example, a pH of 6.5-7.5). The compounds can be used as MRI contrast agents.

The present disclosure provides compounds, complexes, compositions, and methods for the detection of cancer. Specifically, the compounds, complexes, compositions of the present technology include pH (low) insertion peptides. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the complexes and compositions of the present technology in diagnostic imaging to detect cancer in a subject.