Provided herein are compositions comprising a drug delivery system comprising a phospholipid that is hydrolyzed by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme and a drug. Also provided herein are methods for treating or for determining the location of a region to be treated or monitored in a subject in need thereof, the methods comprising: administering to the subject the disclosed composition.

A biocompatible magnetic material containing an iron oxide nanoparticle and one or more biocompatible polymers, each having formula (I) below, covalently bonded to the iron oxide nanoparticle:

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in which each of variables R, L, x, and y is defined herein, the biocompatible magnetic material contains 4-15% Fe(II) ions relative to the total iron ions. Also disclosed in a method of preparing the biocompatible magnetic material.

[Problem]

A novel method for producing a nanoparticle having a metal particle which contains iron oxide to which one or more hydrophilic ligands are coordination bonded is provided, where the nanoparticle is useful as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging.

[Means for Solution]

As the novel method for producing a nanoparticle having a metal particle which contains iron oxide to which one or more hydrophilic ligands are coordination bonded, by performing ligand exchange to a hydrophilic ligand from an iron oxide nanoparticle having a surface to which a hydrophobic ligand is coordination bonded in one step using a phase transfer catalyst, it is possible to expect shortening of production processes and reduction of hydrophilic ligands used.

Furthermore, by producing an iron oxide nanoparticle having a surface to which a hydrophobic ligand is coordination bonded using a dropwise addition method, it is possible to avoid a rapid temperature rise and a reaction at a high temperature of 200° C. or higher, which is more advantageous for industrial production.

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 method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles is disclosed. The method comprises the step of performing phase transfer of a plurality of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands on a surface there of by contacting the metal oxide particles with a combination of tertiary amine and water to form a biphasic mixture, and agitating said biphasic mixture to produce an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands and tertiary amine ligands on the surface thereof.

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 invention provides a lipid bilayer mimicking the lipid composition of the placenta. The lipid composition provides an in vitro placenta model using the lipid composition of the placental cell membrane.

A pharmaceutical composition includes a plurality of metal nanoparticles and at least one therapeutic agent. Each of the metal nanoparticles includes a core and a stabilizing agent coated on a surface of the core. The at least one therapeutic agent is attached to the stabilizing agent of the metal nanoparticles. Each of the therapeutic agent is an amphiphilic compound and has at least one hydrophobic chain interacting with the stabilizing agent. The pharmaceutical composition may further include a polymer shell encapsulating the metal nanoparticles and the therapeutic agent for enabling controlled release of the therapeutic agent. The pharmaceutical compositions are bifunctional and may be used for diagnosing and treating cancer. Methods for using the pharmaceutical compositions in conjunction with radiation therapy to diagnose and treat cancer are also provided.

A method of preparing a coated nanoparticle can include decomposing a compound to produce a nanoparticle, oxidizing the nanoparticle to produce an oxidized nanoparticle, and coating the oxidized nanoparticle with a zwitterionic ligand to produce the coated nanoparticle. The coated nanoparticle or the nanoparticle can be used in magnetic resonance imaging.

The present disclosure provides a nanoparticle, a preparation process thereof, a method for enhancing effect of a liver cancer drug, and a method for ameliorating tumor hypoxia by using the nanoparticle.