A method for early stage pathology detection, location, imaging, evaluation, and treatment of cells and/or extracellular vesicles in the circulation.

Provided herein are improved methods for preparing phospholipid formulations including phospholipid UCA formulations.

Provided herein are improved methods for preparing phospholipid formulations including phospholipid UCA formulations.

Provided herein are improved methods for preparing phospholipid formulations including phospholipid UCA formulations.

A process for the preparation of beads including a biocompatible hydrophobic polymer, a perfluorocarbon, polyvinylalcohol and optionally a metal compound, including the steps of: adding the perfluorocarbon and optionally the metal compound to a solution of the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer in a polar solvent to provide a first liquid mixture, adding the first liquid mixture to an aqueous solution of a biocompatible surfactant including polyvinylalcohol under sonication to obtain a second liquid mixture, a) maintaining the sonication of the second liquid mixture while cooling, b) evaporating the polar solvent from the second liquid mixture to obtain a suspension of beads including the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer, the perfluorocarbon and optionally the metal compound, c) separating the beads from the suspension and preparing a water suspension of the beads and d) freeze-drying the water suspension to obtain the beads, wherein the addition of the first liquid mixture to the biocompatible surfactant in step b) is performed within a period of at most 10 seconds, wherein the sonication in step b) and the sonication in step c) are performed directly into the liquid mixtures by for example a probe or flow sonicator at an amplitude of at least 120 μm for 0.01-10 minutes and wherein the weight ratio of the biocompatible surfactant to the biocompatible hydrophobic polymer is at least 3:1. Beads having close F—H2O interactions, which are suitable for imaging purposes.

The present disclosure is directed to an ultrasound contrast agent comprising microbubbles of perfluorocarbon, which microbubbles are stabilised by a membrane of phospholipid; and a buffering agent; wherein the ultrasound contrast agent has a bulk pH of from about 7.5 or above, preferably about 8.5 or above. The ultrasound contrast agent is for long-term storage and is ready for use in vivo. Further disclosed is a method for preparing such an ultrasound contrast agent and methods for use of an ultrasound contrast agent in a clinical setting.

Disclosed are methods of delivering an agent to the lumen of the vas deferens under guidance of ultrasound imaging. The methods include vas-occlusive contraception in which the vas deferens is non-surgically isolated and an occlusive substance is percutaneously administered into the lumen of the vas deferens under ultrasound. Also disclosed are methods of reversal of vas-occlusive contraception and methods of delivering an agent to the lumen of the vas deferens. Also disclosed are compositions for use in the methods of the invention.

A micro-nano structure formed by self-assembling a compound represented by formula (I), an isomer thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a hydrate or a solvate in an aqueous solution, a preparation method for the micro-nano structure, and use thereof are described. The micro-nano structure has the advantages of having high photothermal conversion efficiency, good photothermal stability, good photothermal effect and photodynamic effect, being easily degraded, and having high safety, and can be passively targeted to tumor sites, having a broad prospect in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers and skin diseases.

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A micro-nano structure formed by self-assembling a compound represented by formula (I), an isomer thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a hydrate or a solvate in an aqueous solution, a preparation method for the micro-nano structure, and use thereof are described. The micro-nano structure has the advantages of having high photothermal conversion efficiency, good photothermal stability, good photothermal effect and photodynamic effect, being easily degraded, and having high safety, and can be passively targeted to tumor sites, having a broad prospect in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers and skin diseases.

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Hypoxia occurs when limited oxygen supply impairs physiological functions and is a pathological hallmark of many diseases including cancer and ischemia. Thus, detection of hypoxia can guide treatment planning and serve as a predictor of patient prognosis. Current methods suffer from invasiveness, poor resolution and low specificity. To address these limitations, various hypoxia-responsive probes (HyPs) for photoacoustic imaging are disclosed. The emerging modality converts safe, non-ionizing light to ultrasound waves, enabling acquisition of high-resolution 3D images in deep tissue. The HyPs feature an N-oxide trigger that is reduced in the absence of oxygen by haem proteins such as CYP450 enzymes. Reduction of HyPs produce a spectrally distinct product, facilitating identification via photoacoustic imaging. HyPs exhibit selectivity for hypoxic activation in vitro, in living cells and in multiple disease models in vivo. HyPs are also compatible with NIR fluorescence imaging, establishing its versatility as a multimodal imaging agent.