Compositions and methods for visualizing tissue under illumination with near-infrared radiation, including compounds comprising near-infrared, closed chain, sulfo-cyanine dyes and prostate specific membrane antigen ligands are disclosed.

Provided herein are imaging agents, antidotes to the imaging agents and methods of using the same to image a thrombus or blood clot or thrombin including sites of thrombin accumulation and to diagnose and treat thrombosis. The imaging agents include an aptamer capable of binding the thrombus or thrombin in particular linked to a reporter moiety. The imaging agents may be used to label the thrombus or sites of thrombin accumulation. Antidotes capable of binding to the aptamer in the imaging agent are also provided. The antidotes may further be linked to a quencher capable of quenching the reporter moiety.

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of opening a lipid bilayer by associating the lipid bilayer with a molecule that includes a moving component capable of moving (e.g., rotating) in response to an external stimulus; and exposing the molecule to an external stimulus before, during or after associating the molecule with the lipid bilayer. The exposing causes the moving component of the molecule to move and thereby open the lipid bilayer (e.g., by pore formation). The external stimuli may include an energy source, such as ultraviolet light. The opened lipid bilayer may be a component of cell membranes in vitro or in vivo. The opening of the lipid bilayer may allow for the passage of various materials (e.g., active agents, such as peptide-based drugs) through the lipid bilayer and into cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the aforementioned molecules for opening lipid bilayers.

Compositions and methods are provided to determine occupancy level of opioid receptors in a subject. The disclosed methods may be performed non-invasively in the inner ear of the subject, and may be performed at a point-of-care location to provide guidance to a practitioner on tapering on pharmacotherapy or on a patient's risk of relapse for substance abuse.

Described herein are formulations, methods, and pH responsive compositions useful for the detection of primary and metastatic tumor tissues.

Described herein are therapeutic pH responsive compositions comprising a block copolymer and a therapeutic agent useful for the treatment of cancer.

The present invention relates to a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having a chemical structure comprising: A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of formula (I): (A)-x.sub.1-(B)-x.sub.2-(C), wherein (A) is at least one motif specifically binding to cell membranes of neoplastic cells; (B) at least one chelator moiety of radiometals; (C) a dye moiety; x.sub.1 is a spacer covalently connecting (A) and (B); x.sub.2 is a spacer or a chemical single bond connecting (B) and (C); wherein (C) has the formula

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.9, a, b, Y and X.sup.1 to X.sup.4 have the meaning as indicated in the claims and description. The invention further relates to compositions comprising said compounds as well as a method for detecting neoplastic cells in a sample in vitro with the aid of the compounds or composition.

Described herein are nanoprobes comprising ultrasmall aminated and cRGDY-conjugated nanoparticles labeled with Zirconium-89 (.sup.89Zr) and methods of their use. The provided compositions are renally clearable and possess suitable blood circulation half-time, high tumor active targeting capability, dominant renal clearance, low liver accumulation, and a high tumor-to-background ratio. The described nanoprobes exhibit great potential as “target-or-clear” tracers to human subjects for systemic targeted imaging (or treatment) of cancer.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for imaging tumor resections.

Peptides that home, target, migrate to, are directed to, are retained by, or accumulate in and/or bind to the cartilage or kidney of a subject are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions and uses for peptides or peptide-active agent complexes comprising such peptides are also disclosed. Such compositions can be formulated for targeted delivery of an active agent to a target region, tissue, structure or cell in the cartilage. Targeted compositions of the disclosure can deliver peptide or peptide-active agent complexes to target regions, tissues, structures, or cells targeted by the peptide.