The disclosure relates to compositions comprising isolated mitochondria or combined mitochondrial agents, and methods of treating disorders using such compositions.

DNA aptamers are high affinity ligands selected by genetic enrichment techniques to bind to specific protein targets. Because these represent chemically stable and reproducible molecules, they have application as affinity reagents and/or therapeutic drugs to affect the target protein's actions. NF-kB is an important mediator of the innate immune response and mediator of tissue inflammation. Although RNA and double stranded DNA aptamers have been identified to bind to the NF-kB family of proteins, the present invention represents the first identification of single stranded DNA aptamers that recognize NFkB RelA. The aptamers disclosed herein bind to several distinct regions of RelA and may be useful to antagonize the DNA binding of RelA as an inhibitor of cellular inflammation, visualize the location or amount of RelA in tissues from pathological conditions, or to quantitatively measure the activated state of RelA by affinity binding.

The invention relates to Cathepsin-binding compounds bound to a carrier comprising a diagnostic moiety, for use in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases, and/or for use in the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases, wherein the Cathepsin-binding compound binds to inflammatory cells of the tumour stroma. The invention also relates to Cathepsin B-targeting compounds and Cathepsin B-binding and liposome-binding compounds.

Disclosed are capped nanoparticles that are effectively trapped within an aqueous gelling solution to produce stable gels and function as a contrast agent for vascular imaging. The contrast agent has good radioopacity, is inexpensive to produce, and is safe to handle. This provides a new method to image the fine vasculature of biological systems.

The invention provides conjugates of cyclic peptides as ligands for cellular surface receptors, in particular, as ligands for αvβ6-integrin. The conjugates further contain effector moieties and are suitable for use as therapeutic agent, diagnostic agent, agent for imaging, targeting moiety and as biomolecular research tool. The invention specifically relates to the use of conjugates with signalling moieties or radionuclides for in-vivo addressing of αvβ6-integrin.

The present application provides quinoline-3-carboxamide compounds covalently linked to a label for use in the diagnosis of an inflammatory disease at local site. The above mentioned compounds can be used to detect or image accumulation of S100A9 in the body of a subject at sites of inflammation, using in vivo non-invasive molecular imaging techniques for the detection of said compounds. Accordingly, labeled quinoline-3-carboxamide compounds can be applied to evaluate the risk of a subject of developing an inflammatory disease and to follow the progress of the disease.

Carbamate and beta-amino acid urea-based scaffolds that have high binding affinity to PSMA are disclosed. These scaffolds can be radiolabeled and used for imaging cells and tumors that express PSMA or for cancer radiotherapy. These compounds also can comprise a fluorescent dye and be used for imaging cells and tumors that express PSMA or for photodynamic therapy.

Provided is a polymeric micelle pharmaceutical preparation that can increase the ratio of contrast at tumor site to background contrast in a short period of time after administration of a lactosome and can suppress the ABC phenomenon so that the lactosome can be administered more than once within a short span. A branched-type amphiphilic block polymer comprising: a multi-branched hydrophilic block comprising sarcosine; and a hydrophobic block comprising polylactic acid. The branched-type amphiphilic block polymer, wherein the number of branches of the hydrophilic block is 3. A molecular assembly comprising the branched-type amphiphilic block polymer. The molecular assembly further comprising a linear type amphiphilic block polymer.

The present disclosure is related to compositions of antibodies and immunoconjugates that potentially lack T-cell epitopes and elicit reduced immune response. The antibody may be an antibody fragment, such as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, scFv, dsFv, ds-scFv, dimers, minibodies, diabodies, bispecific antibody fragments, multimers, and any combination thereof. In a further embodiment, the antibody may bind to an antigen epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). In another embodiment, an immunoconjugate may comprise an antibody attached to an effector molecule, wherein the effector molecule may be a radioisotope, an antineoplastic agent, an immunomodulator, a biological response modifier, lectin, a toxin, a chromophore, a fluorophore, a chemiluminescent compound, an enzyme, a metal ion, and any combination thereof.

Provided is a novel probe for a biological specimen for labelling by itself and clearly visualizing one of a specific cell and a specific cell organ in a living body, the probe having excellent spectral characteristics and exhibiting excellent storage stability. The probe for a biological specimen contains, as an active agent, at least one kind of compound represented by a general formula (I). ##STR00001##