The present disclosure relates to prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted compounds conjugated to near-infra red (NIR) dyes and methods for their therapeutic and diagnostic use. More specifically, this disclosure provides compounds and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases associated with cells and/or vasculature expressing prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), such as prostate cancer and related diseases. The disclosure further describes methods and compositions for making and using the compounds, methods incorporating the compounds, and kits incorporating the compounds.

The pH-responsive ultrasensitive fluorescent nanoprobe is composed of pH-responsive matrix materials and fluorescent organic small molecule dyes. The pH-responsive matrix materials are calcium phosphate, calcium hydroxyphosphate, fluorapatite, calcium carbonate or ZIF series; the fluorescent organic small molecule dyes are positively charged dyes or negatively charged dyes. The preparation method includes: coating a positively charged dye with a negatively charged matrix material; coating a negatively charged dye with a negatively charged matrix material; and coating a negatively charged dye with a positively charged matrix material. Compared with traditional small molecule fluorescent dyes, the present invention can greatly improve the sensitivity and specificity of fluorescence imaging and achieve ultrasensitive detection of tumor microenvironment response; the specific response probe prepared by the unique properties of the tumor microenvironment has the advantages of high targeting efficacy, low background signal, and high signal-to-noise ratio, and can achieve ultrasensitive detection of tiny tumors.

An imaging device includes a body having a first end portion configured to be held in a user's hand and a second end portion configured to direct light onto a surgical margin. The device includes at least one excitation light source configured to excite autofluorescence emissions of tissue cells and fluorescence emissions of induced porphyrins in tissue cells of the surgical margin. A white light source is configured to illuminate the surgical margin during white light imaging of the surgical margin. The device includes an imaging sensor, a first optical filter configured to permit passage of autofluorescence emissions of tissue cells and fluorescence emissions of the induced porphyrins in tissue cells to the imaging sensor, and a second optical filter configured to permit passage of white light emissions of tissues in the surgical margin to the imaging sensor. Systems and methods relate to imaging devices.

The present invention relates to near-infrared-absorbing dye-based composite particles which exhibit a photothermal effect and/or photoacoustic signal upon photoirradiation, a preparation method thereof, and a use thereof. The near-infrared-absorbing composite particles comprise: a water-insoluble salt of a near-infrared-absorbing dye, which comprises anions of the near-infrared-absorbing dye and metal cations capable of forming a precipitation product with the anions of the near-infrared-absorbing dye; and particles of a polymeric surfactant, in which a water-insoluble salt of the near-infrared-absorbing dye is supported in the hydrophobic part of the polymeric surfactant.

A multi-wavelength surgical system is provided using an endoscope sensitive in the short-wave infrared region which allows exploration of different areas of the skull base for CSF leaks. The device includes an LED box with multiple wavelengths including allowing excitation of ICG with 785-808 nm, enhancing the water absorption from 1200-1550 nm and above 1800 nm and incorporating white light to allow for surgical navigation. Because CSF is 99% water having a large absorption in the SWIR band around 1200-1550 nm and above 1800 nm, the system and method should be an effective means of diagnosis without the need for intrathecal fluorescein.

In one aspect, ultrasound-switchable fluorescence (USF) imaging systems are described herein. In some embodiments, such a system comprises an ultrasound source, a fluorophore excitation source, a contrast agent comprising a fluorophore, and an image recording device. The contrast agent, in some cases, comprises a fluorophore associated with a liposome carrier, wherein the contrast agent has a size of up to 1 μm. Further, in some implementations of a system described herein, the image recording device is controlled by a software trigger mode.

Methods of imaging and treating damaged cartilage, e.g., damaged cartilage surfaces, using cationic albumin Described herein is the development of contrast agents comprising cationic albumin (C-albumin) and a cyanine dye to illuminate damaged articular cartilage, and methods of treatment using the C-albumin.

Methods for dynamically evaluating blood flow are provided. The method may include injecting Indocyanine Green (ICG) into the bloodstream of a patient, such that the ICG perfuses into a tissue of the patient. ICG images of the tissue may be recorded and stored, such that a user may select a range of stored ICG images. Data indicative of the selected range of stored ICG images is automatically normalized and background-filtering, and a dynamic representation of the ICG perfusion may be generated as a function of time based on the normalized and filtered data. As such, a clinical decision may be made based on the dynamic representation of the ICG perfusion.

Activity-based probe compounds for use in labeling a cysteine protease are provided. The compounds are targeted to the protease through a specific targeting element. The compounds additionally include a detectable element, such as a fluorescent label, a radiolabel, or a chelator. In some cases, the compounds additionally include a quenching element that is released upon reaction with the protease. Also provided are compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds, for example in labeling a protease in an animal and in visualizing a tumor in an animal.

Provided are aromatic compounds, phospholipid-polymer-aromatic conjugates comprising the aromatic compounds, and liposome compositions including the phospholipid-polymer-aromatic conjugates. The liposomal compositions may be useful for imaging of Alzheimer's Disease, for example, imaging of the amyloid-β plaque deposits characteristic of Alzheimer's Disease.