Described is a versatile surface modification approach to, for example, modularly and orthogonally functionalize nanoparticles (NPs) such as, for example, PEGylated nanoparticles, ith various types of different functional ligands (functional groups) on the NP surface. It enables the synthesis of, for example, penta-functional PEGylated nanoparticles integrating a variety of properties into a single NP, e.g., fluorescence detection, specific cell targeting, radioisotope chelating/labeling, ratiometric pH sensing, and drug delivery, while the overall NP size remains, for example, below 10 nm.

Multi-modal imaging capsule for image-guided proton beam therapy, consisting of a biocompatible polymer layer, .sup.18O-enriched water, and a contrast agent. The biocompatible capsule may be inserted near or inside a tumor under the guidance of X-ray, magnetic resonance, or ultrasonography imaging. Upon proton beam irradiation, the capsule emits positrons, allowing the tumor to be imaged and tracked by a PET detector.

The present disclosure provides peptide constructs for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications, using pegylated peptides which exhibit specific binding for a target molecule of interest, such as a biomarker of a disease or disorder.

A chelating compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and its complexes with metals or radioisotopes thereof. The invention further relates to the preparation of such ligand and complexes as well as to their use as diagnostic or therapeutic agents. ##STR00001##

An hydrogel comprising chitosan and two weak bases having different pKb values. In some embodiments, one of the weak bases if sodium hydrogen carbonate (SHC). Also, use of the hydrogel in medical and cosmetic treatments.

The invention relates to chemical compounds and complexes that can be used in therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

The present invention generally relates to reducing the mucoadhesive properties of a particle. In some embodiments, the particle is coated with and/or associated with a (poly(ethylene glycol))-(poly(propylene oxide))-(poly(ethylene glycol)) triblock copolymer. Methods for preparing inventive particles using a poly(ethylene glycol)-vitamin E conjugate as a surfactant are also provided. In some embodiments, methods are provided comprising administering to a subject a composition of particles of the present invention. Such particles with reduced mucoadhesive properties are useful in delivering agents to mucosal tissues such as oral, ophthalmic, gastrointestinal, nasal, respiratory, and genital mucosal tissues.

Various oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions containing an oil phase or oil core, preferably selected from vitamin E or oleic acid, stabilized by a sphingolipid of the sphingomyelin type, and optionally other lipids such as phospholipids, cholesterol, octadecylamine, DOTAP (N-[1-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy) propyl]-N, N, N-trimethylammonium methyl-sulfate), and PEGylated derivatives (derivatives with polyethylene glycol), for use as a nanotech vehicle, for example for the management of cancer and metastatic disease. Said nanoemulsions can be functionalized with ligands capable of interacting or binding to receptors expressed on the cell membrane of tumor cells, and in particular capable of interacting or binding to receptors expressed on the membrane of primary and/or disseminated or metastatic tumor cells. Also, antitumor drugs or therapeutic biomolecules can be encapsulated in said nanoemulsions and, finally, contrast agents can be incorporated for their use in the in vivo diagnosis in said nanoemulsions.

Provided are isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that bind to tumor antigens. Also provided are isolated polypeptides and CARs encoded by the isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors that include the isolated nucleic acid molecules, cells that include the isolated nucleic acid molecules, methods of making the same, and methods for using the same to generate a persisting population of genetically engineered T cells in a subject, expanding a population of genetically engineered T cells in a subject, modulating the amount of cytokine secreted by a T cell, reducing the amount of activation-induced calcium influx into a T cell, providing an anti-tumor immunity to a subject, treating a mammal having a MUC1-associated disease or disorder, stimulating a T cell-mediated immune response to a target cell population or tissue in a subject, and imaging a MUC1-associated tumor.

Proposed is to provide a size-varying bubble complex and a method of preparing the same. More specifically, the size-varying bubble complex and the method of preparing the same are proposed, wherein the bubble complex is capable of being repeatedly varied in size by changing phases of perfluorocarbon by external stimuli, by including a shell that encapsulates a core made of the perfluorocarbon and protects the core by expanding and contracting together when the core expands and contracts.