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 biothiol-activatable composition is disclosed that is configured to dissociate in the presence of a concentration of biomolecules that are excreted normally by a liver of a living subject comprising a noble metal nanoparticle, a reporter molecule, a linker molecule that is conjugated to the noble metal nanoparticle and to the reporter molecule, but displaceable in the presence of the biomolecules, and wherein the reporter molecule is released in the presence of the biomolecules. The noble nanoparticle is preferably a gold nanoparticle; the reporter molecule preferably comprises at least one of a fluorescent dye molecule, a radioactive molecule or an MRI agent and the linker molecule is preferably a thiol molecule displaceable by biothiols in the liver. In another aspect, the reporter molecule dissociates from the composition in the presence of a concentration of glutathione similar to what is found in liver sinusoids of a normally functioning liver.

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.

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.

Compounds with magnetic properties are provided herein, which belong to the category of metal oxide nanoparticles, coated and conveniently functionalized, which are conjugated with naphthalene compounds related to agglomerates and β-amyloid plaques present in neurodegenerative diseases. These new nanoparticles (NPs) are used for the non-invasive detection of agglomerates and amyloid plaques using the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique. The nanoparticles described here cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), without the use of any membrane-disrupting agent. Likewise, they bind with high affinity and specificity to the agglomerates and β-amyloid plaques, and are used as contrast agents in MRI for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

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.

Provided are DNA-coated nanoparticles (DNA-NPS), superparamagnetic nanoparticles (DNA-SPNs), and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanopa rticles (DNA-SPIONs) as efficient imaging agents for targeting and imaging atherosclerotic lesions and treating atherosclerotic disease. The DNA-NS, DNA-SPNs, and DNA-SPIONs can enter macrophage cells via the Class A scavenger receptor (SR-A)-mediated pathways and can be used to specifically target atheroscleortic plaques.

Provided is a bilirubin derivative-based ultrasound contrast agent for diagnosis and treatment. The fine particles including the bilirubin derivative are sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), bind with hydrophobic drugs, and can effectively chelate metals such as iron oxide nanoparticles. Therefore, the fine particle of the present invention can be used as an ultrasound contrast agent for diagnosis, as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, or as a carrier for hydrophobic drugs or platinum-based drugs.

The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, particularly an MRI contrast agent derived from nanoparticle that is porous first metal-doped second metal oxide nanoparticle with a central cavity, and a method for producing the same. The MEI contrast agent made in accordance with the present invention can be used not only as a drug-delivery agent for therapy but also as an MRI contrast agent for diagnosis.