Provided is an immune microbubble complex, and a use thereof. An immune-microbubble complex (IMC) according to the presently claimed subject matter includes microbubbles to which an antibody is conjugated, in which the microbubbles have excellent stability and excellent antibody binding strength, and it was confirmed that, when the immune-microbubble complex is treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), an anti-tumor effect is significantly increased and an immune-enhancing effect is exhibited. Therefore, the immune-microbubble complex according to the presently claimed subject matter is expected to increase the efficiency of delivering the conjugated antibody and be used in both diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and exhibit various functions in the field of immunotherapy, including a contrast effect, half-life improvement, improved drug delivery, a lymphocyte concentration effect, cancer immunotherapy and induction of immunotherapy using ultrasound.

The present invention involves devices and therapies for ocular diseases or disorders in individuals. Provided herein are therapeutic agents, and devices and methods of delivering therapeutic agents (e.g., nucleic acid vectors) to target ocular cells (e.g., retinal cells) involving methods of administering therapeutic agents to the individual and methods of electrotransfer of therapeutic agents.

The invention provides CaO.sub.2 nanoparticles having a pH-responsive coating for use in a method of adjuvant therapy of hypoxic tumour cells or tissues. The nanoparticles find particular use in enhancing cancer therapies that depend on oxygen to exert their effect, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and radiotherapy. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing the coated CaO.sub.2 nanoparticles, together with at least one photosensitiser, sonosensitiser, or radiosensitiser and, optionally, at least one pharmaceutical carrier or excipient.

A method for non-surgically reducing localized adipose tissue in a patient is provided. The method comprises topically administering to a site at or proximate adipose tissue, with massage at the site of administration, a composition comprising: at least one biologically compatible pharmacologically active detergent selected from the group consisting of a lipophilic detergent, a hydrophilic detergent, an ionic detergent, a non-ionic detergent, a zwitterionic detergent, a glyceride and a bile acid or salt thereof in a concentration ranging from about 0.5% to about 30% by wt of the composition and at least one phospholipid. In one embodiment, a novel composition comprising deoxycholic acid or a salt thereof at a concentration ranging from about 0.5% to about 30% by wt, and phosphatidylcholine at a concentration ranging from about 0.1% to about 2% by wt, in a cream base is also provided.

Provided are a tumor proliferation inhibitor and a method for inhibiting tumor proliferation both of which can be applied to a minimally invasive cancer treatment using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. The present invention provides a tumor proliferation inhibitor containing an ultrasound-sensitive substance and an acoustic cavitation phenomenon-enhancing substance, and provides a method for inhibiting tumor proliferation that can exhibit a tumor proliferation-inhibitory effect using the tumor proliferation inhibitor in combination with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound of a degree that is used in ultrasound diagnosis, and that can be applied to a minimally invasive cancer treatment using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound.

Provided are expression vector constructs encoding IL-12 p35 and IL-12 p40 proteins where each protein or component thereof can be expressed utilizing appropriate promoters and/or translation modifiers. Also provided are methods of use for the expression vectors.

The present invention provides for a dosing schedule for the intratumoral delivery of an immunostimulatory cytokine in combination with systemic delivery of a checkpoint inhibitor. In particular, it provides delivery of a plasmid encoding the immunostimulatory cytokine, e.g., IL-12, using intratumoral electroporation, and the systemic delivery of a PD-1 antagonist.

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.

Methods for enhancing intracellular uptake of active agents by inducing temporary pore formation in a cell membrane are described. The methods generally comprise introducing nanoparticles to a cell in vivo, ex vivo, or in cell culture to magnetic nanoparticles that are taken up into the cell interior. The methods further comprise introducing active agents to the cell. A magnetic field is applied to the cell for targeted excitation of the internalized magnetic nanoparticles to induce temporary pore formation in the cell membrane, such that the active agent is taken up in an increased amount and/or at an increased rate by the cell.

The present invention provides compositions comprising energy (e.g., light) absorbing submicron particles (e.g., nanoparticles comprising a silica core and a gold shell) and methods for delivering such particles via topical application. This delivery is facilitated by application of mechanical agitation (e.g. massage), acoustic vibration in the range of 10 Hz-20 kHz, ultrasound, alternating suction and pressure, and microjets.