The invention concerns compounds of the formula: X(Y).sub.t wherein: X is Formula (X), each Y is the same or different and is Formula (Y) O[CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2O].sub.mH; or C(OR.sup.5).sub.3; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 are each, independently, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.mR.sup.4, [CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH.sub.2O].sub.nH, OR.sup.11, O(CH.sub.2).sub.PR.sup.13, or (CH.sub.2)R.sup.12; each R.sup.4 is independently OR.sup.5 or OH; R.sup.5, R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 are each, independently, H or C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl; R.sup.13 is NH.sub.3.sup.+Cl.sup. or NHBoc; t is an integer from 2 to 6; m, n, and p are each, independently, an integer from 1 to 12; and each q, r, and s is 0 or 1 and the sum of q+r+s is at least 2. ##STR00001##

The invention is directed to a staining composition and to the use of the staining composition in staining ocular tissue. In a first aspect, the invention provides a staining composition comprising a vital dye and a density increasing compound chosen from the group consisting of water soluble polymers and small inert molecules.

The present invention relates to, drug-filled polymeric microparticles comprising a gas core and shell that combine high incorporation efficiency for hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic drugs with a large, preferably hollow, core.

The invention relates to a nanoparticle comprising copolymeric or homopolymeric compounds which comprise cyanoacrylate subunits according to formula 2A, wherein each R.sup.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexyl, 2-phenylethyl, neopentyl, 1-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyl, 3-methylbutyl, -heptyl, 2-heptyl, and 3-heptyl; and wherein the nanoparticle further comprises an active agent. The invention also provides compositions comprising the nanoparticles, and the nanoparticles for use in therapy or diagnosis, such as in the treatment of cancer or an infection, or for use in diagnostic imaging.

This invention concerns novel oxazine-based fluorophore compounds useful in in vivo nerve imaging, as well as compositions comprising them and methods for their use.