The present invention in various aspects and embodiments involves the use of CO releasing molecules, such as conjugates comprising tumour-selective ligands and groups capable of releasing carbon monoxide (CO), for exerting immunomodulatory effects in cancer treatment, such as reductions in the expression of immune checkpoint molecules and the level of inhibitory macrophages. This can reduce immunosuppression in tumour tissue and can be useful, for example, in the treatment of immunosuppressive cancers or the treatment of cancers in combination with cancer immunotherapy.

Dimer and monomer molecules according to general formulas (I) or (II) are useful as lipid switch molecules when incorporated into a membrane of a liposome.

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrophobic tail having at least 6 carbons and wherein R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of —NH.sub.2,

##STR00002##

wherein, for the dimer, the linker is a saturated carbon chain having 2 to 6 carbons or is a para-xylene linker; and when R.sup.2 is charged anions are present to render the charge neutral. These molecules can bind ATP or similar small phosphorylated molecules between R.sup.2 groups, which changes the shape of the molecule or the molecules orientation within the membrane thereby acting as a “switch” to release a therapeutic agent from the liposome.

The present invention relates to polymeric nanoparticles comprising a cytokine or a nucleic acid encoding for a cytokine, pharma-ceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods for treating certain diseases comprising administering these polymeric nanoparticles to a subject in need thereof.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising polyinosinic (poly(l)) and polycytidylic acid poly(C) molecules, or a salt and/or solvate thereof, comprising double-stranded polyribonucleotides formed by the respective single-stranded poly(l) and poly(C) molecules and methods of makig same. The present invention further relates to compositions wherein the disclosed respective poly(l) and poly(C) single-stranded molecules are annealed to thereby form double-stranded poly(l:C) molecules.

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 presently disclosed subject matter provides nanoparticles comprising bortezomib encapsulated in a non-water-soluble polymer matrix in a form of a bortezomib-tannic acid complex; methods for preparing the nanoparticle; and use of the nanoparticles for treating liver cancer.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-b-poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) co-polymers (PEG-PBAE) and blends of PEG-PBAEs and PBAEs and their use for delivering drugs, genes, and other pharmaceutical or therapeutic agents safely and effectively to different sites in the body and to different cells, such as cancer cells, are disclosed.

The present invention aims to dramatically increase the effect of hepatic arterial chemoembolization by developing human serum albumin-based nanoparticles, which are bioproteins that effectively carry Adriamycin in place of Adriamycin, an anticancer agent used in hepatic arterial chemoembolization. The human serum albumin nanoparticles carrying the Adriamycin not only intensively infiltrate the drug effectively into the cells but also have a synergistic effect that can induce a long-term therapeutic effect by utilizing the effect of continuous drug release from the particles.

Nanoparticle compositions for delivery of nucleic acids to subjects including carriers comprising polyester (PE) dendrimers or dendrons, and therapeutic or immunogenic nucleic acid agents enclosed within the PE are described. Methods for treating or preventing diseases or conditions in a subject by administering the nanoparticle compositions that provide immune responses and synergistic therapeutic or preventive effects are provided.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to cancer cell destruction and, more specifically, to cancer cell destruction by photo-magnetic irradiation mediated multimodal therapy using smart nanostructures.