Boron-doped graphene quantum dots, methods for making the boron-doped graphene quantum dots, and methods for magnetic resonance imaging using the boron-doped graphene quantum dots.

Provided is a novel nanoparticle, a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging containing the same, and a ligand compound used for production of the nanoparticle. The present invention relates to a nanoparticle including: a metal particle containing iron oxide; and a ligand which is bound to a metal atom on a surface of the metal particle and is represented by formula (3):

##STR00001##

where m is an integer of 1 to 4, and a broken line represents a coordinate bond with a metal atom on the surface of the metal particle.

A pharmaceutical composition includes a plurality of metal nanoparticles and at least one therapeutic agent. Each of the metal nanoparticles includes a core and a stabilizing agent coated on a surface of the core. The at least one therapeutic agent is attached to the stabilizing agent of the metal nanoparticles. Each of the therapeutic agent is an amphiphilic compound and has at least one hydrophobic chain interacting with the stabilizing agent. The pharmaceutical composition may further include a polymer shell encapsulating the metal nanoparticles and the therapeutic agent for enabling controlled release of the therapeutic agent. The pharmaceutical compositions are bifunctional and may be used for diagnosing and treating cancer. Methods for using the pharmaceutical compositions in conjunction with radiation therapy to diagnose and treat cancer are also provided.

A nanotherapeutic supported by a hierarchical silica composite with dual imaging capability (e.g. fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging), a method of preparing the nanotherapeutic, and a method of treating cancer. Also disclosed is a method of oxidatively dehydrogenating ethane using a catalytic system supported by a hierarchical silica composite.

Methods of and systems for making a hyperpolarized fluid are provided, which include exposing a fluid and parahydrogen to a catalyst. The hyperpolarized fluid can be introduced to a subject. The hyperpolarized fluid can be included in methods of imaging a subject. Also provided are methods that use the hyperpolarized fluids for detecting protein ligand interactions and for enhancing the NMR signals of biopolymers having chemically exchangeable protons.

The present invention provides a .sup.19F-MR/fluorescence multi-mode molecular imaging and drug loading diagnosis-treatment integrated nanoprobe, and a preparation method and an application. The nano-probe is a nanoparticle formed by coating a mixture of a surfactant containing a molecular targeting treatment drug and a fluorescent dye with a Perfluorocarbon (PFC) carrier; and by uniformly dispersing a mixed solution into water and glycerol, processing ultrasonically, removing a component which is not effectively coated, and purifying, the drug-loading nanoparticle capable of being used for 19 F-MR imaging may be prepared. The nano-probe may implement in-vivo 19F-MR molecular imaging; a carried molecular targeting treatment drug can implement targeted binding and targeted treatment; and by virtue of a characteristic that PFC in a nucleus may carry and release oxygen massively, an anaerobious microenvironment in the tumor is improved, a chemosensitization effect is achieved, and thus the diagnosis-treatment integration of the tumor is implemented finally.

The present disclosure provides method of making a nanoparticle complex wherein the nanoparticle complex comprises a ligand and a metal cation. The disclosure also provides nanoparticle complexes, methods of treating a disease in a patient utilizing the nanoparticle complexes, methods of identifying a disease in a patient utilizing the nanoparticle complexes, and kits involving the nanoparticle complexes.

Nanoparticles, compositions, and methods are disclosed for manufacturing and using the nanoparticles and compositions for cellular tracking, drug encapsulation, and biologic tracking.

The theranostic biocompatible microcapsules provided are efficient contrast enhanced imaging agents that combine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with ultrasound-triggered drug release for real-time tracking and targeted delivery in vivo. The capsules are assembled via layer-by-layer deposition of the natural polyphenol tannic acid and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) with iron oxide nanoparticles incorporated in the capsule wall. The nanoparticle-modified capsules exhibit enhanced T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 MRI contrast in a clinical MRI scanner. Loaded with the an anticancer drug such as doxorubicin the capsules circulate in the blood stream for at least 48 hours, an improvement compared to non-encapsulated nanoparticles. High-intensity focused ultrasound results in targeted drug release with a 16-fold increase in the pharmacologically active agent localization in tumors compared to off-target organs. Owing to the active contrast, long circulation, customizable size, shape, composition, and precise delivery of high payload concentrations, these materials present an improved platform for imaging-guided precision drug delivery.

The present invention relates to a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging, in which the contrast agent comprises: a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein each magnetic nanoparticle comprises a core covered at least in part with a layer of metal, wherein the core and the layer of metal are comprised of different materials; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.