The present disclosure provides imaging agents that are useful for the detection and evaluation of heart conditions, such as myocardial infarction. Upon activation, the imaging agents of the present disclosure may be detected using an ultrasound imaging device.

Methods and devices for producing a population of liposomes are provided. Aspects of the methods include applying a centrifugal force to a suspension of liposomes in a manner sufficient to pass the liposomes through a porous membrane to produce a population of liposomes. Aspects of the invention further include devices, systems and kits useful for performing the methods.

The present disclosure includes composite microparticles for magnetically triggered release of a biologically active agent. Also included are systems including the biocompatible composite microparticles and an alternating current (AC) magnetic field generator to magnetically trigger release of a biologically active agent from the microparticles. The present disclosure further includes methods of delivering a biologically active agent to a patient in vivo using the microparticles and systems of the present disclosure. The present disclosure also includes methods of making biocompatible composite microparticles of the present disclosure for magnetically triggered release of a biologically active agent.

This document provided ocular delivery systems for treatment of cystinosis as well as methods for making such ocular delivery systems and methods for using such ocular delivery systems. For example, ocular delivery systems designed to include spray-dried, cysteamine-loaded microparticles suspended in a thermoresponsive gel are provided herein.

The present invention provides an apparatus for targeting and disrupting, deactivating or destroying microorganisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, fungus or diseased cells). The apparatus includes Field-Electric Nano-Particles coated, conjugated or functionalized with one or more guiding agents such as antibodies or proteins that target a type of bacteria, fungus, virus or diseased cells; a delivery module to deliver such nanoparticles into a subject's body, and an external energy field generation module. The nanoparticles, when subject to the applied external energy field, generate an electric field or pulses of electric field localized to the targeted bacteria, fungus or virus to disrupt, deactivate or destroy the targeted bacteria, fungus, viruses, or diseased cells.

A triggerable polymeric nanoparticle (NP) library composed by several formulations, presenting physico-chemical diversity and differential responsiveness to light. In certain applications, six formulations were more efficient (up to 500%) than commercial Lipofectamine in gene knockdown activity. These formulations had differential internalization by skin cells and the endosomal escape was rapid (minutes range) as shown by the recruitment of galectin 8. The NPs described were effective in the release of siRNA and miRNA but can also be extended to the release of mRNA and other types of RNA. Acute skin wounds treated with the top hit NP complexed with miRNA-150-5p healed faster than wounds treated with scramble miRNA. Thus, light-triggerable NPs offer a new strategy to deliver topically non-coding and coding RNAs.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of performing a photo-thermal dermatological procedure without use of an injectable anesthetic. The method includes applying a topical anesthetic to a treatment area of skin, measuring a surface temperature of the treatment area of skin, and passing a stream of cold air over the area of skin such that the surface temperature of the treatment area of skin is maintained between 0 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius for a duration of at least 30 seconds. The method further includes administering a photo-thermal energy dose to the area of skin after the duration.

Compositions and methods for administration of local anesthetics that are delivered by a single injection and enable repeated on-demand or high influx analgesia over extended periods have been developed. Pharmaceutical compositions including an effective amount of one or more sodium channel blockers including site 1 sodium channel blockers, optionally one or more alpha-2-adrenergic agonists, which are optionally encapsulated in liposomes, particles or microbubbles, and one or more triggerable elements are provided. The triggerable elements allow delivery of the encapsulated anesthetic drugs when an appropriate triggering stimuli are applied. Exemplary triggering agents or stimuli include near-infrared irradiation, UV- and visible light, ultrasound and magnetic field. In one embodiment, ultrasound is used to trigger a burst of microbubbles to enhance penetration of local anesthetic.

A method includes depositing within a predetermined region of a target tissue with a plurality of dopant particles. The method also includes focusing a laser beam to a focal region that overlaps with at least a portion of the predetermined region. The focal region includes at least a first dopant particle of the plurality of dopant particles. The method further includes adjusting a first parameter of the laser beam to generate plasma within a plasma volume comprising the first dopant particle.

The present disclosure provides stimuli-responsive particles, methods of preparing stimuli-responsive particles, and methods of using the stimuli-response particles. Unlike conventional platforms, (e.g., polymers, liposomes, dendrimers) the particles of the present disclosure have precise size control of the particle diameter, high uniformity, high stability, high active agent uptake capacity, minimal premature active agent leakage, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Additionally, the present disclosure provides magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods of using the MRI systems in combination with the stimuli-responsive particles described herein.