The disclosure provides nanoemulsion compositions and methods of making and using thereof to deliver a bioactive agent such as a nucleic acid to a subject. The nanoemulsion composition comprises a hydrophobic core based on inorganic nanoparticles in a lipid nanoparticle that allows imaging as well as delivering nucleic acids. Methods of using these particles for treatment and vaccination are also provided.

A nanoparticle construct is provided. The nanoparticle construct includes a nanoparticle defining an outer surface, a magnetic nanocrystal carried by the nanoparticle, and a coupling agent extending from the outer surface of the nanoparticle. The coupling agent is configured to couple the nanoparticle construct to a cell.

Bolaamphiphilic compounds are provided according to formula I:

##STR00001##

where HG.sup.1, HG.sup.2 and L.sup.1 are as defined herein. Provided bolaamphilphilic compounds and the pharmaceutical compositions thereof are useful for delivering imaging agents into animal or human brain.

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.

Provided is a bilirubin derivative-based ultrasound contrast agent for diagnosis and treatment. The fine particles including the bilirubin derivative are sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), bind with hydrophobic drugs, and can effectively chelate metals such as iron oxide nanoparticles. Therefore, the fine particle of the present invention can be used as an ultrasound contrast agent for diagnosis, as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, or as a carrier for hydrophobic drugs or platinum-based drugs.

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 present invention relates to glycyrrhizin-glycol chitosan conjugate-coated nanoparticles, islet cells, prepared using same, for transplantation, and an MRI imaging composition comprising same. If transplanted, the islet cells comprising the nanoparticles can suppress a post-transplantation immune response. The present invention can provide islet cells for transplantation that can be transplanted to a certain region by magnetic force induction and can be tracked by MRI.

A method of enhancing the nuclear spin polarization of target molecules (10) uses a hyperpolarized source material (12) that is co-confined with the target molecules (10) in a porous molecular matrix (20). The matrix (20) may be a D4R-polysiloxane copolymer such as polyoligosiloxysilicone number two (PSS-2) that has recesses of an appropriate diameter. A source material (12), such as parahydrogen, is transferred to the matrix (20) together with the target molecules (10), and an external pressure is applied to force them into the recesses of the matrix (20). The nano-confinement of the source material (12) and target molecules (10) together enables or enhances a transfer of spin polarization from the source material (12) to the target molecules (10). When the target molecules (10) are removed from the matrix (20), the enhanced spin polarization greatly enhances the signal strength of the target molecules (10) in any subsequent magnetic resonance measurement.

Provided is a novel nanoparticle, a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging containing the same, and a ligand compound used for production of the nanoparticle. The present invention relates to a nanoparticle including: a metal particle containing iron oxide; and a ligand which is bound to a metal atom on a surface of the metal particle and is represented by formula (3):

##STR00001##

where m is an integer of 1 to 4, and a broken line represents a coordinate bond with a metal atom on the surface of the metal particle.

The invention relates to amphiphilic dye-coated inorganic nanoparticle clusters and uses thereof. Specifically, the invention relates to cyanine and/or cyclic tetrapyrrole dye-coated metallic nanoparticle clusters for use in medical imaging and treatments.