The present disclosure provides a fluorescent contrast agent with a targeting function, and a preparation method and a use thereof, and belongs to the technical fields of nanomaterials and biomedical materials. The fluorescent contrast agent (MR780 NPs) of the present disclosure can specifically bind to CD206 on a surface of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). MR780 NPs accumulate in lymph nodes invaded by tumor cells and undergo an oxidation-reduction reaction with reduced glutathione in a tumor microenvironment, which triggers a fluorescence signal of MR780 NPs; and MR780 NPs do not accumulate and do not show fluorescence in normal lymph nodes. Therefore, the fluorescent contrast agent of the present disclosure can be used to diagnose lymph node metastasis (LNM) of breast cancer, realize the preoperative evaluation of LNM, assist in the clinical determination of tumor staging and the formulation of a surgical plan, and achieve the accurate resection under intraoperative fluorescence navigation.

Provided herein, inter alia, are methods and compositions useful for treating a disease.

The present invention provides random copolymers containing zwitterions and one or more functional agents, and methods of preparing such random copolymers.

This disclosure relates to peptides and nanoparticles comprising a surface molecule that binds or blocks PD-L1. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of using peptides or nanoparticles disclosed herein for the treatment of cancer. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of using nanoparticles disclosed herein for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Therapeutic proteins for inducing apoptosis in cells and method for using such proteins are described. The protein, e.g., a chimeric protein, has a host peptide fused to a more stable BH3 domain peptide. The host peptide may be Calbindin D9k, a N-terminal or C-terminal half-domain of Calmodulin, Parvalbimin (“Pa”), an amino acid sequence variant thereof, or a modified variant thereof. The BH3 domain may be Bim, Bid, Bad, Bik, Bmf, Hrk, Puma, or Noxia. Moreover, various conjugates may be attached to the chimeric protein, including a folate and polyethylene glycol.

The present invention provides methods for the production of a library of antigen specific antigen binding molecules having a peptide domain structure represented by the following formula (I): FW 1-CDR1-FW2-HV2-FW3a-HV4-FW3b-CDR3-FW4 comprising (1) isolating RNA from a member of a species in the Elasmobranchii subclass; (2) amplifying DNA sequences from RNA obtained; (3) selecting a DNA sequence from the database prepared; (4) amplifying DNA sequences encoding two or more contiguous peptide domains of FW1-CDR1-FW2-HV2-FW3a-HV4-FW3b-CDR3-FW4; (5) ligating together said amplified DNA sequences to form DNA sequences encoding an antigen specific binding molecule; (6) cloning the amplified DNA obtained into a display vector; and (7) transforming a host with said display vector to produce a library of said antigen specific antigen binding molecules. The invention also provides methods for the production of an antigen specific antigen binding molecule as defined, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such molecules and uses thereof in medicine.

The present invention relates to a molecule delivery technology and a carrier technology, which may selectively deliver a material to a desired specific cell and living tissue. The present invention may be utilized in the field of a drug carrier which effectively delivers an imaging probe and a therapeutic agent to an affected part.

The present invention provides a fluorescent silica-based nanoparticle that allows for precise detection, characterization, monitoring and treatment of a disease such as cancer. The nanoparticle has a range of diameters including between about 0.1 nm and about 100 nm, between about 0.5 nm and about 50 nm, between about 1 nm and about 25 nm, between about 1 nm and about 15 nm, or between about 1 nm and about 8 nm. The nanoparticle has a fluorescent compound positioned within the nanoparticle, and has greater brightness and fluorescent quantum yield than the free fluorescent compound. The nanoparticle also exhibits high biostability and biocompatibility. To facilitate efficient urinary excretion of the nanoparticle, it may be coated with an organic polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The small size of the nanoparticle, the silica base and the organic polymer coating minimizes the toxicity of the nanoparticle when administered in vivo. In order to target a specific cell type, the nanoparticle may further be conjugated to a ligand, which is capable of binding to a cellular component associated with the specific cell type, such as a tumor marker. In one embodiment, a therapeutic agent may be attached to the nanoparticle. To permit the nanoparticle to be detectable by not only optical fluorescence imaging, but also other imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computerized tomography (CT), bioluminescence imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radionuclides/radiometals or paramagnetic ions may be conjugated to the nanoparticle.

This disclosure relates to synthetic ligands for detecting PD-L1 in a sample or subject. The ligand can be labeled with a variety of detectable labels allowing of visualization and quantification. The ligand provides an alternative PD-L1 binding molecule with advantages over current antibody technologies for detecting PD-L1.

A particulate structure that includes a/ a biodegradable polymer particle, b/ gold nanoparticles covered on their surface with macrocyclic chelators complexing at least one ion of interest and/or a radionuclide for medical imaging, c/ a polycation having a positive charge over a pH range from 5 to 11, the gold nanoparticles b/ being encapsulated in the polymer particle a/ and/or adsorbed at the surface of the polymer particle a/. Also, a method for preparing the particulate structures. Further, the use of the particulate structures for radiotherapy or chemotherapy in the context of cancer treatment.