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.

Provided herein are MRI agent-loaded platelets, methods of preparing MRI agent-loaded platelets, and methods of using MRI agent-loaded platelets. In some embodiments, methods of loading MRI agents into platelets include contacting platelets with an MRI agent, a cell penetrating peptide, and a loading buffer that can include a salt, a base, a loading agent, and optionally at least one organic solvent.

The invention relates to novel biocompatible hybrid nanoparticles of very small size, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy. The purpose of the invention is to offer novel nanoparticles which are useful in particular as contrast agents in imaging (e.g. MRI) and/or in other diagnostic techniques and/or as therapeutic agents, which give better performance than the known nanoparticles of the same type and which combine both a small size (for example less than 20 nm) and a high loading with metals (e.g. rare earths), in particular so as to have, in imaging (e.g. MRI), strong intensification and a correct response (increased relaxivity) at high frequencies. The method for the production of these nanoparticles and the applications thereof in imaging and in therapy also form part of the invention.

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.

Provided is a lung disease drug delivery carrier, in which the carrier includes a disc particle made of polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA), the disc particle contains therein a drug, the carrier delivers and/or releases the drug therein into a lung, and the disc particle has a size of 1 μm to 5 μm.

Nanoclusters comprising inorganic nanocrystals and a biodegradable polymer are disclosed. The inorganic nanocrystals have a mean particle size of 1 to 500 nm. The inorganic nanocrystals are contained within a core of the nanoclusters, on the surface of the nanoclusters, contained within a core of the nanoclusters, dispersed throughout the nanoclusters, or a combination thereof. The biodegradable polymer allows the inorganic nanocrystals to be excreted renally over a period of time. The nanoclusters can be used for medical imaging or other biomedical applications.

Deuterated polymer-biomolecule conjugates and the synthesis and use of deuterated polymer-biomolecule conjugates for detecting the location of specific molecules, e.g., cell surface molecules, in a subject, and for imaging various processes within the body, for detecting the location of molecules associated with disease pathology, and for monitoring disease progression are disclosed.

The disclosure discloses an amphiphilic polymer nano micelle containing poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine chelated ferric ions, in which ferric ions are chelated with a catechol structure on a side chain of a biodegradable poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine block. The disclosure also provides a method for preparing the above micelle, comprising: complexing an amphiphilic polymer containing poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine with a ferric ion compound, and obtaining the amphiphilic polymer nano micelle containing poly-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine chelated ferric ions through a solvent replacement method. The micelle prepared by the disclosure is used as a Fe.sup.3+ magnetic resonance Ti imaging contrast agent, which can avoid toxic or side effects caused by a traditional gadolinium reagent, has a longitudinal relaxation rate of 5.6 mM.sup.1.Math.s.sup.1, can cycle for 150 min in a mice body, and has an obvious imaging effect and a far higher comprehensive performance than that of a commercial gadolinium contrast agent, and as well as a promising application prospect.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of antigen to liver cells, in particular, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) and/or Kupffer cells, and for the in vivo generation of regulatory T cells, notably CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases, allergies or other chronic inflammatory conditions, and for generation of regulatory T cells. The nanoparticles used in the invention comprise a) a micelle comprising an amphiphilic polymer rendering the nanoparticle water-soluble, and b) a peptide comprising at least one T cell epitope associated with the outside of the micelle. The micelle may or may not comprise a solid hydrophobic core.

In one aspect, compositions comprising a population of core-shell nanoparticles are described herein. In some cases, the population of core-shell nanoparticles comprises a core component and a shell component encapsulating or surrounding the core component. Additionally, one or more radiosensitizers are disposed in or dispersed throughout the core component, or an interior region of the core component. Similarly, one or more chemotherapeutic agents are disposed in or dispersed throughout the shell component, or an interior region of the shell component. Moreover, in some cases, the core component is formed from one or more biodegradable polymers. Further, in some instances, the shell component is formed from one or more stimuli responsive polymers, such as a temperature-responsive polymer and/or pH-responsive polymer.