Disclosed herein are nanoparticles for diagnosis or treatment of tumors. The nanoparticles include: (a) a core including a Prussian blue dye; and (b) a shell obtained by partially or completely coating a surface of the Prussian blue core with albumin, thereby diagnosing a tumor by a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a near-infrared fluorescence imaging apparatus and necrotizing a tumor by a combined photothermal-photodynamic effect.

A multi-signal fluorescent probe, represented by: ##STR00001##
A method for preparing the multi-signal fluorescent probe includes: (a) adding 2-methoxyphenothiazine and ethyl iodide into a mixture of dichloromethane (DCM) and acetonitrile followed by a first reaction and a first post-treatment to obtain 10-ethyl-2-methoxy-10H-phenothiazine; (b) adding boron tribromide into the 10-ethyl-2-methoxy-10H-phenothiazine under an inert gas followed by a second reaction under an ice bath and a second post-treatment to obtain 10-ethyl-10H-phenothiazin-2-ol; and (c) mixing the 10-ethyl-10H-phenothiazin-2-ol, malonic acid, zinc chloride and phosphorus oxychloride followed by a third reaction and a third post-treatment to obtain the multi-signal fluorescent probe. A use of the multi-signal fluorescent probe in the detection of intracellular ONOO.sup. and Na.sub.2S.sub.2 is also provided.

The present application discloses solid compositions for the oral administration of dyes, and diagnostic use thereof. Preferably, such diagnostic use is aimed at the diagnostic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Herein described are solid oral compositions of dyes for use in diagnostic endoscopy, preferably colon endoscopy.

A contrast mixture with increased affinity and selectivity to neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, being of three components and consisting of 0.0005-0.01% by weight of low-molecular component, 0.05-6% by weight of high-molecular component and isotonic solution, wherein low-molecular component is a contrast substance, which is a colouring agent used in food industry and pharmacy and high-molecular component is a colloid modulator of velocity designed to decelerate diffusion of the contrast mixture into a tissue in such manner that the velocity of diffusion into healthy tissue of gastrointestinal tract and the velocity of diffusion into neoplasm tissue of gastrointestinal tract is different. In an embodiment, the colouring agent is the sodium and/or calcium salt of [4-(alpha-(4-diethylaminophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,4-disulphophenylmethylidene)-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-ylidene] diethylammonium hydroxide or 3,7-bis(Dimethylamino)-phenothia zin-5-ium chloride and the colloid modulator of velocity is a starch, pectin, agar-agar (agarose and agaropectins) and/or non-linearly branched amylopectins. A use of the contrast mixture for colour sharp distinction of the interface between healthy tissue and neoplasm tissue of gastrointestinal tract.

The present invention provides a laparoscopic surgery method comprising inspection of peritoneal surfaces under an isotonic solution comprising a contrast enhancing agent using near contact scanning by a laparoscope. Accordingly, the method according to the current invention comprises introducing the solution and the contrast enhancing agent into the retroperitoneal space through a catheter or a channel of a laparoscope using an irrigation pump. The present invention provides also an isotonic laparoscopy solution comprising a contrast enhancing agent enhancing the contrast of the laparoscopic view.

A method for observing the morphology of a biological tissue is disclosed. The method involves administering a combination of fluorescent dyes into the biological tissue. The combination of fluorescent dyes includes two or more fluorescent dyes selected from a group consisting of: patent blue V, isosulfan blue, toluidine blue, hypericin, indocyanine green, MVAC, and doxorubicin. The method further involves using a microscopic imaging system to form an image of the biological tissue. The microscopic imaging system forms the image based on a contrast resulting from the combination of fluorescent dyes. A concentration of the first fluorescent dye depends on an administration route. A fluorescence of the combination of fluorescence dyes reveals the morphology of the biological tissue at a cellular scale. The fluorescence is observed by means of one of: ex vivo microscopy and in vivo microscopy.

Described are luciferin analogues, methods for making the analogues, kits including the analogues, and methods of using the compounds for the detection of luminescence in luciferase-based assays.

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.

A method of imaging living tissue is provided. The method includes introducing a photoacoustic contrast agent comprising or consisting of a photosensitizer into living tissue; and obtaining an image of the living tissue by photoacoustic imaging. Use of a photoacoustic contrast agent comprising or consisting of a photosensitizer in photoacoustic imaging is also provided.