A liposomal composition (“ADx-003”) is provided, ADx-003 comprising a first phospholipid; a sterically bulky excipient that is capable of stabilizing the liposomal composition; a second phospholipid that is derivatized with a first polymer; a macrocyclic gadolinium-based imaging agent; and a third phospholipid that is derivatized with a second polymer, the second polymer being conjugated to a targeting ligand, the targeting ligand being represented by Formula I:

##STR00001##

wherein X is —CH.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2—CH.sub.2—, —CHO—, or —O—CO—; Y is —CH—CH═CH— or

##STR00002##

A and B are independently selected from C and N; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are independently selected from —H, halogen, —OH, and —CH.sub.3; and R.sub.5, R.sub.6, and R.sub.7 are independently selected from —H, halogen, —OH, —OCH.sub.3, —NO.sub.2, —N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl, or a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.4-C.sub.6 aryl group, except that when A and/or B is N the adjacent R.sub.5 and/or R.sub.7 is —H, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A process for the preparation of beads including a biocompatible hydrophobic polymer, a perfluorocarbon, polyvinylalcohol and optionally a metal compound, including the steps of: adding the perfluorocarbon and optionally the metal compound to a solution of the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer in a polar solvent to provide a first liquid mixture, adding the first liquid mixture to an aqueous solution of a biocompatible surfactant including polyvinylalcohol under sonication to obtain a second liquid mixture, a) maintaining the sonication of the second liquid mixture while cooling, b) evaporating the polar solvent from the second liquid mixture to obtain a suspension of beads including the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer, the perfluorocarbon and optionally the metal compound, c) separating the beads from the suspension and preparing a water suspension of the beads and d) freeze-drying the water suspension to obtain the beads, wherein the addition of the first liquid mixture to the biocompatible surfactant in step b) is performed within a period of at most 10 seconds, wherein the sonication in step b) and the sonication in step c) are performed directly into the liquid mixtures by for example a probe or flow sonicator at an amplitude of at least 120 μm for 0.01-10 minutes and wherein the weight ratio of the biocompatible surfactant to the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer is at least 3:1. Beads having close F—H2O interactions, which are suitable for imaging purposes.

Gadolinium based contrast agents (GCA) incorporating linear ligand chelation are fundamentally different from GCAs incorporating macrocyclic ligands. The macrocyclic\GCAs are synthesized by pathways characterized by the formation of a sequence of metastable complexes before obtaining the final stable complex. The synthesis of linear GCAs do not form metastable complexes. Commercial macrocyclic GCAs contain unstable metastable complexes. These metastable species are not regulated and quickly release free Gd3+ ions upon administration into the body. Gadolinium based contrast agents with near zero metastable species content and methods of synthesizing the same are disclosed. Gadolinium based contrast agents with long dissociation time in the body, and low free Gd3+ ion formation are obtained using a synthesis method which departs in novel ways from the traditional free Gd3+-based synthesis methods.

The present invention involves a novel method for treatment of cancer that involves co-administration of iron sucrose and/or a protoporphyrin such as tin protoporphyrin in an amount sufficient to protect a patient's kidney against cytotoxicity of a chemotherapeutic agent.

The present invention refers to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a macrocyclic gadolinium complex and a water-soluble polyarylene additive useful in diagnostic imaging as diagnostic agents, in particular as contrast agents, specifically in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Provided herein are nanoparticle compositions (e.g., nanoparticle compositions comprising high atomic number ions) that are useful for imaging diseases in a subject as well as radiosensitizing a disease in a subject (e.g., radiosensitizing a cancer in the subject). Methods of imaging a subject, methods of treating cancer, and processes of preparing the nanoparticle compositions are also provided.

The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of 2,2′,2″-(10-((2R,3S)-1,3,4-trihydroxy butan-2-yl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl) triacetic acid, gadolinium (III) with iron metal content less than 5 ppm and free gadolinium content less than 10 ppm, which is represented by the formula (1). The present invention further relates to an improved process for the preparation of calcium complex of 10-(2,3-Dihydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)propyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclo decane-1,4,7-triacetic acid known as Calcobutrol (1a) and its sodium salt of formula (1b) with purity greater than 98.0%.

##STR00001##

In some aspects, the present disclosure provides novel ligands, which may be used to make novel MRI contrast agents for the detection of zinc. In further aspects, by the present disclosure also provides methods of using as imaging agents and compositions thereof.

Disclosed are: an intermediate capable of high-purity synthesis of gadobutrol which can be used as an MRI contrast agent; and a gadobutrol production method using same. The gadobutrol intermediate is represented by Chemical Formula 2 in the specification.

A nanoparticle for diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or theranostic applications includes a rod-shaped plant virus like particle (VLP), one or more gadolinium T.sub.1 contrast agents conjugated to an interior surface of the VLP, and a layer of polydopamine (PDA) coated over a portion of the exterior surface of the VLP.