Nanoparticles, compositions, and methods are disclosed for manufacturing and using the nanoparticles and compositions for cellular tracking, drug encapsulation, and biologic tracking.

A method of synthesizing a radiolabeled nanoparticle. The method includes heating a solution including an iron oxide nanoparticle and at least one radioactive metal ion to bind the iron oxide nanoparticle and the at least one radioactive metal ion, thereby forming the radiolabeled nanoparticle. The method further includes adding a quenching agent to the solution to complex with non-bound radioactive metal ions remaining in the solution. The method further includes separating the complexed quenching agent from the radiolabeled nanoparticle.

The present invention provides stem cells loaded with bi-functional magnetic nanoparticles (nanoparticle-loaded stem cells (NLSC)) that both: a) heat in an alternating magnetic field (AMF); and b) provide MRI contrast enhancement for MR-guided hyperthermia. The nanoparticles in the NLSC are non-toxic, and do not alter stem cell proliferation and differentiation, the nanoparticles do however, become heated in an alternating magnetic field, enabling therapeutic applications for cancer treatment. Due to the fact that circulating stem cells home to tumors and metastasis, and participate in neovascularization of growing tumors, the NLSC of the present invention allows tracking of the tissue distribution of infused stem cells and selective heating of targeted tissues with AMF. NLSC can deliver hyperthermia to hypoxic areas in tumors for sensitization of those areas to subsequent treatment, thus delivering therapy to the most treatment-resistant tumor regions. The heating of diseased tissue either results in direct cell killing or makes the tumor more susceptible to radio- and/or chemotherapy. The targeted hyperthermia provided by the present invention has clinical potential because it is associated with fewer side effects, and can also be used in combination with conventional treatment modalities, significantly enhancing their effectiveness. The NLSC of the present invention can be used for MR image-guided hyperthermia in oncology, in stem cell research for cell tracking and heating, and for elimination of mis-injected stem cells.

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.

The invention discloses a composition comprising surface modified iron oxide nanoparticles with citric acid modified cyclodextrin with a hydrodynamic diameter of less than 10 nm and a hydrophobic molecule.

The composition finds use in targeted delivery of a hydrophobic drug and as contrast agent in imaging applications.

Multifunctional cancer targeting nanoparticles include a magnetic central core including gold coated iron oxide, an outer layer including trimethyl chitosan microspheres and folic acid and a linker between the central core and the outer layer, the linker including cysteamine. An anti-cancer drug can be supported by the outer layer. The multifunctional cancer targeting nanoparticle can provide simultaneous cancer cell diagnosis and therapy. An amount of heat and an amount of the anti-cancer drug released by the nanoparticle can be controlled by application of a magnetic field.

The present invention relates to the field of drug delivery, in particular the delivery of unmodified cargo molecules (such as doxorubicin and Taxol) using iron oxide nanoparticles as therapeutic delivery agents. Specifically described are methods to entrap cargo (i.e. known therapeutics (drugs) and other types of molecules) into the exterior coating of iron oxide nanoparticles, including iron oxide nanoparticles approved for use in humans. Additionally, methods describe the use of such drug-loaded nanoparticles as therapeutic delivery agents. Further, methods include quantifying and visualizing the amount of cargo molecule loading levels when preparing these therapeutic agents and then quantifying and visualizing the amount of delivery (i.e. unloading) of these cargo molecules from these nanoparticles using compact magnetic relaxometers, common NMR instruments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instruments.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided for imaging immune response of soft tissue to therapy by, prior to therapy, administering a contrast agent to the soft tissue; imaging a region of interest using delta relaxation enhanced magnetic resonance (DREMR) to define a functional section; selectively sampling local cells in the functional section; conducting immuno-assay analysis on the sampled local cells; and following therapy, further imaging said region of interest using DREMR to assess immune response of said cells to therapy.

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of dry formulations of dairy probiotic bacteria using a combination of different polymers. The said formulations having increased viability during processing, storage and upon transfers to the rumen of the dairy animals. Further said formulations having high tolerance to lactate and acetate in the rumen of dairy animals.

Magnetosomes for use in a sequential laser radiation medical treatment, wherein the magnetosomes are administered to a body part of an individual. In a first step, the magnetosomes are irradiated by a laser radiation, and in a second step, the magnetosomes are irradiated by a laser radiation of lower power than in the first step or no laser irradiation of the magnetosomes is performed. The sequence of the first step and second step is repeated at least once.