Conjugates comprising a drug, cell or biological molecule bound to a photoluminescent polymer nanoparticle, in particular a cross-linked polyfluorene nanoparticle, are described herein, as well as their methods of manufacture and their uses in biological imaging and sensing applications.

Provided is a modified J-aggregate (MJ). In some embodiments, the MJ is nanoscale, sub-micronscale, or microscale. Also provided is an MJ conjugate. Also provided are processes for making an MJ or an MJ conjugate. Photoacoustic imaging methods employing the MJ or MJ conjugate are also provided.

The present invention provides a fluorescent silica-based nanoparticle that allows for precise detection, characterization, monitoring and treatment of a disease such as cancer. The nanoparticle has a range of diameters including between about 0.1 nm and about 100 nm, between about 0.5 nm and about 50 nm, between about 1 nm and about 25 nm, between about 1 nm and about 15 nm, or between about 1 nm and about 8 nm. The nanoparticle has a fluorescent compound positioned within the nanoparticle, and has greater brightness and fluorescent quantum yield than the free fluorescent compound. The nanoparticle also exhibits high biostability and biocompatibility. To facilitate efficient urinary excretion of the nanoparticle, it may be coated with an organic polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The small size of the nanoparticle, the silica base and the organic polymer coating minimizes the toxicity of the nanoparticle when administered in vivo. In order to target a specific cell type, the nanoparticle may further be conjugated to a ligand, which is capable of binding to a cellular component associated with the specific cell type, such as a tumor marker. In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent may be attached to the nanoparticle. To permit the nanoparticle to be detectable by not only optical fluorescence imaging, but also other imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computerized tomography (CT), bioluminescence imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radionuclides/radiometals or paramagnetic ions may be conjugated to the nanoparticle.

Passivated semiconductor nanoparticles and methods for the fabrication and use of passivated semiconductor nanoparticles is provided herein.

A drug carrier nanoparticle has been synthesized that can specifically target the proximal tubules of the kidneys. The nanoparticles accumulate in the kidneys to a greater extent than other organs (e.g., up to 3 or more times greater in the kidney than any other organ). They can encapsulate many classes of drug molecules. The nanoparticles are biodegradable and release the drug as they degrade. The particles can sustainably release a drug within the kidneys for up to two months. The nanoparticles are useful for the treatment of diseases that affect the proximal tubules, such as heart failure, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, and renal failure; the study of relative blood flow to the renal cortex and medulla; and delivery of agents to treat gout.

Provided are methods of contacting a tissue inside a subject with light by applying an ultrasound signal to a photoexcited mechanoluminescent particle while the mechanoluminescent particle is inside the subject and in proximity to the tissue, thereby causing the mechanoluminescent particle to emit light that contacts the tissue. Provided are systems and kits for performing such methods.

The present invention provides a compound of Formula (I) as defined herein. The present invention also provides a nanoparticle comprising a plurality of the conjugates of the present invention, and methods of using the nanoparticles for drug delivery, treating a disease, and methods of imaging.

The invention relates to novel biocompatible hybrid nanoparticles of very small size, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy.

The purpose of the invention is to offer novel nanoparticles which are useful in particular as contrast agents in imaging (e.g. MRD and/or in other diagnostic techniques and/or as therapeutic agents, which give better performance than the known nanoparticles of the same type and which combine both a small size (for example less than 20 nm) and a high loading with metals (e.g. rare earths), in particular so as to have, in imaging (e.g. MRI), strong intensification and a correct response (increased relaxivity) at high frequencies.

Thus, the nanoparticles according to the invention, with diameter d.sub.1 between 1 and 20 nm, each comprise a polyorganosiloxane (POS) matrix including gadolinium cations optionally associated with doping cations; a chelating graft C.sup.1 DTPABA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid bisanhydride) bound to the POS matrix by an —Si—C— covalent bond, and present in sufficient quantity to be able to complex all the gadolinium cations; and optionally another functionalizing graft Gf* bound to the POS matrix by an —Si—C— covalent bond (where Gf* can be derived from a hydrophilic compound (PEG); from a compound having an active ingredient PA1; from a targeting compound; from a luminescent compound (fluorescein).

The method for the production of these nanoparticles and the applications thereof in imaging and in therapy also form part of the invention.

The present invention relates to intraoperative fluorescent imaging (IFI) used both pre-clinically using in-vivo models, as well as clinically to map sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer, skin cancer, GI cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and several other cancers. IFI can be used to image solid tumors both non-specifically in hepatobiliary and breast cancers as well as in prostate and ovarian cancer. In one embodiment, two-dimensional resolution to 10 μm.sup.2 is possible with optical imaging, significantly higher than other imaging modalities. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a series of self-assembled nanoparticles using HLA (hyaluronic acid) as both a polymeric backbone as well as targeting ligand. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to the synthesis of HLA conjugates, and the effect of variation of the hydrophobic ligand structure and conjugation level on nanoparticle self-assembly, size, ICG loading efficiency, and ICG fluorescence quenching and reactivation.

Described are conjugated polymers and conjugated polymer nanoparticles formed therefrom. The conjugated polymers and conjugated polymer nanoparticles have a maximum emission of light that occurs within a tissue transparent window of the electromagnetic spectrum. These emission properties are particle-size independent. The sizes of the conjugated nanoparticles are controlled by altering the concentration of the conjugated polymer used to make conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Also described are methods of making conjugated polymer nanoparticles that have larger sizes than have been traditionally reported, involving a modified reprecipitation approach. The conjugated polymers and/or conjugated polymer nanoparticles can be used as fluorescent probes in biological imaging.