The present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of core-shell particles by the coacervation method encapsulating contrast agents for multimodal imaging. The process consists in: a. Providing a water in oil emulsion of a biocompatible polyelectrolyte polymer. b. Providing an aqueous solution of a biocompatible polyelectrolyte polymer having opposite charges of the polyelectrolyte of step a). c. Adding a crosslinking agent to the primary emulsion and the secondary solution. d. Adding at least a tracer independently to the primary emulsion or the secondary solution or emulsion. e. Adding the secondary aqueous solution to the primary emulsions and occurring of the complex coacervation leading to the separation of the coacervate particles. f. Optionally absorb a further tracer into the nanoparticles The disclosure also relates to the coacervates obtained by the above described process and their use as probe for multimodal imaging in the diagnostic field.

An object of the disclosure is to provide a composition for evaluating the hepatic glucose uptake capacity of a subject and a method for evaluating the hepatic glucose uptake capacity of a subject with the composition. An object of the disclosure is to provide a method for determining the stage of pre-onset diabetes in a subject with pre-onset diabetes using the method for evaluating the hepatic glucose uptake capacity. An aspect of the disclosure accordingly provides a composition comprising .sup.13C-labeled glucose for evaluating the hepatic glucose uptake capacity of a subject. Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method comprising measuring .sup.13C-labeled glucose in a blood sample or an expired air sample obtained from the subject to which the composition was administered. The desired evaluation or determination can be achieved by comparing the measured value with a reference value.

Disclosed are methods, compositions of matter, and protocols useful for the detection of altered cells in a patient. Immune cells capable of clonal expansion are engineered to produce a soluble signal upon activation and/or clonal expansion. The cells may possess a suicide gene, inducible upon administration pharmacological or light/radiation activatable, so as to eliminate the cells from body when desired. In another embodiment, immune cells produce a localized marker, the marker being visible with imaging technology. In other embodiments cells capable of non-clonal expansion are utilized. The disclosure provides means of utilizing the immunosurveillance properties of immune cells to diagnose and localize diseases associated with alteration of host cells.

A photocrosslinkable hydrogel may comprise a radioisotope-labeled photocrosslinkable compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which may be used as a composition for radiotherapy, a composition for radiodiagnostic imaging and a composition for anticancer treatment. The hydrogel is excellent in staying in a local area requiring radiation treatment, so that it can be treated while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. In addition, it can be used in combination with an anticancer agent and used as a pharmaceutical composition for anticancer treatment, so that cancer can be effectively treated. The hydrogel can be manufactured on site immediately and conveniently using a portable microfluidic system, thereby maximizing the radiation treatment effect.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for imaging and treating various diseases and disorders, including cancers. The composition of the invention can include a plurality of biodegradable micro-beads, each embedding a plurality of nano-beads, further including a polymer, a radionuclide, a radionuclide chelator, a radioligand, a chemotherapeutic agent, and a cell-penetrating peptide. Upon injection into a blood vessel supplying a cancer tumor, the micro-beads lodge into the tumor and degrade, releasing the nano-beads with a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a more homogeneous and deeper distribution of radiation or chemotherapeutic agents throughout the target tumor. The micro-beads provide a local, sustained, and controlled delivery nano-beads including therapeutic or diagnostic agents.

The invention provides a method for producing a solution containing .sup.211At.sup.− (astatide ion) at a high radiochemical purity by using .sup.211At obtained by a nuclear reaction as a starting material, including a step of adding a reducing agent to a solution containing an impurity derived from .sup.211At. The invention also provides a solution containing .sup.211At.sup.− (astatide ion) at a radiochemical purity of not less than 30%.

A particulate form of dithiocarbamate-metal complex and at least one blood protein. The particulate form is obtained by a process having a sequential or simultaneous addition of individual components, resulting in their self-assembling. The aqueous dispersion of the particulate form is suitable for parenteral, oral and topical administration and for therapy and visualization of cancer.

Functionalized single walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) can be delivered into mammals to targeted organs, such as the kidney and the liver. These f-CNTs may be non-covalently linked or covalently linked to therapeutic agents. In particular, the application delivers carbon nanotube-therapeutic agent conjugates to a target organ, thereby preventing or reducing damages to the organ caused by other agents or procedure.

Described herein are compositions comprising liposome-based nanocarriers and associated drugs that selectively target bone marrow, minimize tumor delivery, and maintain high drug concentrations in bone marrow when compared to conventional systemic delivery. The compositions also selectively target lymph nodes and other reticuloendothelial system organs (e.g., spleen, e.g., liver), while minimizing delivery to the tumor in order to deliver drugs that prevent bone marrow suppression (BMS) or aid recovery post exposure to radiation. There are a wide range of scenarios for which such radiation protection is useful, e.g., protection from radiation delivered as part of cancer therapy, radiation from weapons, radiation from materials at a nuclear power plant or nuclear waste site, natural radiation in outer space (e.g., for astronauts), and the like. The described compositions are stable for prolonged periods of time, in some cases over a year in a kit formulation.

It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide minigastrin derivates which further improve the accumulation in CCK-2 receptor positive tumours by simultaneously very low accumulation in other organs, e.g. the kidneys. This objective is achieved according to the present invention by a minigastrin derivate having the formula: X-Z-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH.sub.2 (Y), wherein at least one of the connecting or terminal amide bonds between, before or after the amino acids of the sequence Z, Ala, Tyr, Gly, Trp, Met, Asp, Phe and NH.sub.2 or Y (C-terminal) is replaced by a 1,4-disubstituted or a 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole, while X stands for a chemical group attached to the peptide for the purpose of diagnostic and/or therapeutic intervention at CCK-2 receptor relevant diseases, Y stands for C-terminal modifications of the peptide, such as amide, primary and secondary amides, free carboxylic acids and carboxylic ester derivatives including but not limited to amides and esters derived from linear or branched alkyl-,alkenyl-, alkynyl- aromatic-, and heterocyclic alcohols, and Z stands for a linker or DGlu* wherein DGlu* stands for a chain of DGlu having 1 to 6 repetitions (-DGlu-to-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-DGlu-). These minigastrin derivates have a high specific internalization, excellent IC.sub.50 values and sufficient plasma stability.