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.

Nanoparticles for use as a contrast agent, and methods for making and using the nanoparticles, are described, wherein each nanoparticle comprises a core comprising bismuth and iron oxide, and an outer coating (e.g., dextran) surrounding the core. The bismuth-iron oxide nanoparticles can be used in pre-clinical and clinical settings for both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

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 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.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a nanoemulsion and a preparation method therefor, the nanoemulsion comprising an oil component, a surfactant, and an aqueous component, wherein the aqueous component comprises a water-soluble active ingredient, a polysaccharide, and hyaluronic acid.

Provided are an extract, which is a fractionated component 1 of a water extract of a plant powder, wherein the fractionated component 1 is a fractionated component having a fractionation molecular weight of 12,000 or greater, wherein an ethanol-undissolved component of the fractionated component 1 exhibits a peak attributable to carboxylic acid in a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurement and exhibits a peak attributable to cellulose in a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurement, and wherein an ethanol-dissolved component of the fractionated component 1 exhibits a peak attributable to carboxylic acid in the FT-IR measurement and exhibits a peak attributable to a plant protein in the GC-MS measurement, and a water-purifying agent containing the extract.

Nanocages are formed by etching nanocubes. The nanocubes are added to an aqueous system having an amphiphilic lipid dissolved in an organic solvent (e.g. a hydrophobic alcohol) to form reverse micelles. As the water evaporates the micelles shrink as etching of the flat surface of the nanocubes occurs. In this fashion hollow nanocages are produced. In one embodiment, the nanocage is covalently attached to a polymer shell (e.g. a dextran shell).

To solve the problem of differentiating veins from lymphatics in MRI images, among other uses, the disclosed embodiments relate to compositions, kits, systems, and methods that include an MRI contrast agent and an MRI suppression agent that is also a blood pool agent. Using appropriate MRI techniques, the MRI suppression agent will suppress signal in its location, while signal enhanced by the MRI contrast agent in other locations will not be suppressed. The result is a clarified MRI image with only non-vascular regions enhanced.

Intravenous ferumoxytol is used to effectively label mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vivo and is used for in vivo tracking of stem cell transplants with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The method eliminates risk of contamination and biologic alteration of MSCs associated with ex-vivo-labeling procedures.

A system and method for locating magnetic material. In one embodiment the system includes a magnetic probe; a power module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to supply current to the magnetic probe; a sense module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to receive signals from the magnetic probe; and a computer in electrical communication with the power module and the sense module. The computer generates a waveform that controls the supply of current from the power module and receives a signal from the sense module that indicates the presence of magnetic material. The magnetic probe is constructed from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of substantially 10.sup.6/ C. or less and a Young's modulus of substantially 50 GPa or greater. In one embodiment magnetic nanoparticles are injected into a breast and the lymph nodes collecting the particles are detected with the probe and deemed sentinel nodes.