Biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles may include: a biocompatible polymer and/or functional metal nanostructures. The biocompatible polymer may be a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The functional metal nanostructures may include at least one noble metal, at least one magnetic metal oxide, or mixtures thereof. The biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles may have an average size less than or equal to 200 nanometers (nm).

A mouthwash for fluorescence endoscopic dental imaging includes at least one fluorescent dye and a liquid base. A method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging includes orally administering a mouthwash to a subject; waiting a predetermined period of time; removing excess mouthwash from the subject; illuminating the subject with visible or near-infrared light; and capturing fluorescent light from the subject to create an image.

Disclosed herein are pharmacologically acceptable magnetic nanoparticles suitable for administration to a subject.

There are described magnetic nanoparticles the surface of which is functionalized with catechol and constructs comprising a plurality of said nanoparticles encapsulated in a biocompatible polymer matrix, wherein a molecule with therapeutic action is optionally dispersed, said polymer matrix optionally being in turn further functionalized; there are further described cells of the immune system incorporating said polymeric constructs giving rise to their engineering.

The invention described herein relates to sterically stabilized colloidal constructs comprising preformed colloidal particles encapsulated within a polymeric shell. The constructs, which are controllably sized, are nanoparticles comprising hydrophobic elements, electrostatically charged particles with hydrophobic surfaces, hydrophobic inorganic nanostructures, and amphiphilic copolymers with hydrophobic domains and hydrophilic domains. The constructs are made by a process that allows for the simultaneous encapsulation of a preformed colloidal agent as well as a dissolved hydrophobic active within the core of the polymeric nanoparticle. Among the actives incorporated in various embodiments are organic fluorescent dyes, metal nanostructures and superparamagnetic materials for use in combined fluorescence, optical and magnetic resonance imaging applications, and hydrophobic drugs for therapeutic applications.

Disclosed herein are nanoconstructs comprising a nanoparticle, coated with additional agents such as cationic polymers, stabilizers, targeting molecules, labels, oligonucleotides and small molecules. These constructs may be used to deliver compounds to treat solid tumors and to diagnose cancer and other diseases. Further disclosed are methods of making such compounds and use of such compounds to treat or diagnose human disease.

A non-invasive drug release monitoring and quantification method and system is provided using magnetic particle imaging to monitor in vivo drug release. A living body is imaged with a magnetic particle imager after the living body has been injected with a nanocomposite composed of a biodegradable polymer shell layer containing a cluster of magnetic nanoparticles and a drug. A magnetic particle signal is detected and obtained which represents the release of magnetic nanoparticles from the PLGA shell layer, which is the result of a disassembly of the biodegradable polymer shell layer due to biological degradation of the biodegradable polymer shell layer in an acidic environment of the living body resulting in drug release and magnetic nanoparticle release. The release of the drug in the living body is quantified using a previously obtained reference linear relationship defined between the magnetic particle signal and the drug release rate.

Disclosed herein are nanoconstructs comprising a nanoparticle, coated with additional agents such as cationic polymers, stabilizers, targeting molecules, labels, oligonucleotides and small molecules. These constructs may be used to deliver compounds to treat solid tumors and to diagnose cancer and other diseases. Further disclosed are methods of making such compounds and use of such compounds to treat or diagnose human disease.

There are described magnetic nanoparticles the surface of which is functionalized with catechol and constructs comprising a plurality of said nanoparticles encapsulated in a biocompatible polymer matrix, wherein a molecule with therapeutic action is optionally dispersed, said polymer matrix optionally being in turn further functionalized; there are further described cells of the immune system incorporating said polymeric constructs giving rise to their engineering.

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.