A non-pyrogenic preparation containing nanoparticles synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria for medical or cosmetic applications. The nanoparticles are constituted by a crystallized mineral central part including predominantly an iron oxide, as well as a surrounding coating without material from the magnetotactic bacteria.

A non-pyrogenic preparation containing nanoparticles synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria for medical or cosmetic applications. The nanoparticles are constituted by a crystallized mineral central part including predominantly an iron oxide, as well as a surrounding coating without material from the magnetotactic bacteria.

The present invention relates to a MRI contrast agent for a liver cancer-specific imaging diagnosis including manganese silicate which releases manganese ion (Mn.sup.2+) under acidic conditions, and a method of characterizing liver tissue using the MRI contrast agent. In a relatively short time, T1-weighted images show different patterns depending on the tissue-specificity such as vascularity, cell density, mitochondrial activity, hepatocellular affinity and the like in normal liver tissues and lesion liver tissues (especially hepatic tumors), and thus, the disease-specific characteristics of liver cancers can be analyzed at appropriate times by analyzing the T1-weighted images. It is expected to be very useful for differentiating the liver cancer types or evaluating the therapeutic effect. Furthermore, it is expected to be useful for diagnosing the diseases occurring in organs other than liver based on the tissue-specificity.

The invention relates to a method for synthesizing ultrasmall silica nanoparticles, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy. More specifically, a method for synthesizing silica nanoparticles, said method comprising the mixing of at least one silane which is negatively charged at physiological pH with at least one silane which is neutral at physiological pH, and/or at least one silane which is positively charged at physiological pH, wherein: the molar ratio A of neutral silane(s) to negatively charged silane(s) is defined as follows: 0A6, the molar ratio B of positively charged silane(s) to negatively charged silane(s) is defined as follows: 0B5, the molar ratio C of neutral and positively charged silanes to negatively charged silane(s) is defined as follows: 0<C8. The invention also relates to the obtained ultrasmall silica nanoparticles.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits comprising core-satellite nanocomposites useful for photothermal and/or MRI applications (e.g., tumor treatment and/or imaging). In certain embodiments, the core-satellite nanocomposites comprise: i) a core nanoparticle complex comprising a biocompatible coating surrounding a nanoparticle core, and ii) at least one satellite component attached to, or absorbed to, the biocompatible coating. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle core and satellite component are composed of near-infrared photothermal agent material and/or MRI contrast agent material. In further embodiments, the satellite component is additionally or alternatively composed of near-infrared optical dye material.

The design, synthesis, and functionalization of a conjugate including a tumor-targeting near-infrared (NIR) dye and a therapeutic agent and/or a diagnostic agent, whereby the NIR dye can function to target the therapeutic agent and/or diagnostic agent to tumor cells.

In one aspect, radioactive nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a radioactive nanoparticle described herein comprises a metal nanoparticle core, an outer metal shell disposed over the metal nanoparticle core, and a metallic radioisotope disposed within the metal nanoparticle core or within the outer metal shell. In some cases, the radioactive nanoparticle has a size of about 30-500 nm in three dimensions. In addition, in some embodiments, the radioactive nanoparticle further comprises an inner metal shell disposed between the metal nanoparticle core and the outer metal shell. The metal nanoparticle core, outer metal shell, and inner metal shell of the radioactive nanoparticle can have various metallic compositions.

The present invention relates to a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging, in which the contrast agent comprises: a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein each magnetic nanoparticle comprises a core covered at least in part with a layer of metal, wherein the core and the layer of metal are comprised of different materials; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

A submicron structure includes a silica body defining a plurality of pores that are suitable to receive molecules therein, the silica body further defining an outer surface between pore openings of said plurality of pores; and a plurality of anionic molecules attached to the outer surface of the silica body. The anionic molecules provide hydrophilicity to the submicron structure and are suitable to provide repulsion between other similar submicron structures, and the submicron structure has a maximum dimension less than one micron.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits comprising core-satellite nanocomposites useful for photothermal and/or MRI applications (e.g., tumor treatment and/or imaging). In certain embodiments, the core-satellite nanocomposites comprise: i) a core nanoparticle complex comprising a biocompatible coating surrounding a nanoparticle core, and ii) at least one satellite component attached to, or absorbed to, the biocompatible coating. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle core and satellite component are composed of near-infrared photothermal agent material and/or MRI contrast agent material. In further embodiments, the satellite component is additionally or alternatively composed of near-infrared optical dye material.