The present invention describes methods of identifying, detecting, imaging, isolating and locating cancer cells in a subject. The method involves the use of near-infrared (NIR) organic carbocyanine dyes, particularly, near infrared heptamethine cyanine dyes and the detection of the fluorescence of these NIR dyes. The uptake of these dyes by cancer cells and not by normal cells, as well as their high intensity, among other things, allow for the detection of cancerous cells in a subject and facilitate their subsequent isolation. Further, detection of many tumor types and tumor cell populations under cell culture and in vivo conditions are described.

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##

The present invention relates to fluorescent dyes. The present invention provides a wide range of fluorescent dyes and kits containing the same, which are applicable for labeling a variety of biomolecules, cells and microorganisms. In one aspect, the invention provides a compound having a maximal fluorescence excitation wavelength, wherein the compound has a structure of Formula II: ##STR00001##
wherein Z.sup.− is a counterion, Y is a bridge unit permitting electron delocalization between F and Ψ, and F is a moiety having the structure: ##STR00002## The present invention also provides various methods of using the fluorescent dyes for research and development, forensic identification, environmental studies, diagnosis, prognosis, and/or treatment of disease conditions.

The present invention relates to a method for detecting renal disease and for assessing the efficacy of dialysis treatment using imaging agents having desirable in vivo properties.

The present invention provides dioxetane-based chemiluminescence probes, more specifically fluorophore-tethered dioxetane-based chemiluminescence probes and compositions thereof. The chemiluminescence probes disclosed are useful for both diagnostics and in vivo imaging.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I, wherein D is a detectable moiety, or salts thereof, which can be used as activity-based probes for neutrophil elastase, as well as to methods for detecting neutrophil elastase (NE) activity in a tissue sample lysate, and related diagnostic methods using compounds of formula I.

##STR00001##

Cyanine dyes with improved fluorescence intensity and photostability.

A dye-drug conjugate for preventing, treating, or imaging cancer having the following structure:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, alkyl, alkyl-sulphonate, alkylcarboxylic, alkylamino, aryl, —SO.sub.3H, —PO.sub.3H, —OH, —NH.sub.2, and -halogen; wherein Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylsulphonate, alkylcarboxylic, alkylamino, ω-alkylaminium, ω-alkynyl, PEGyl, PEGylcarboxylate, ω-PEGylaminium, ω-acyl-NH, ω-acyl-lysinyl-, ω-acyl-triazole, ω-PEGylcarboxyl-NH—, ω-PEGylcarboxyl-lysinyl, and ω-PEGylcarboxyl-triazole; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, halogen, CN, Me, NH.sub.2, SH and OH; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently a hydrogen, a therapeutic agent, or an imaging moiety, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of a platinum-based therapeutic agent, a small molecule therapeutic agent, a peptide, a protein, a polymer, an siRNA, a microRNA, and a nanoparticle, wherein the imaging is a radio-isotope selected from the group consisting of F18, I-125, I-124 I-123, I-131, and small molecule labeled with any of these isotopes, or wherein the imaging moiety is a chelator-complexed radioactive isotope, wherein the radioactive isotope is selected from the group consisting of Cu-64, In-111, Tc-99m, Ga-68, Lu-177, Zo-89, Th-227 and Gd-157.

Hydrogels that degrade under appropriate conditions of pH and temperature by virtue of crosslinking compounds that cleave through an elimination reaction are described. The hydrogels may be used for delivery of various agents, such as pharmaceuticals.

A curable composition includes: a near infrared absorbing compound that includes a cation having an absorption in a near infrared range and an anion; a salt of an anion that is a component other than the near infrared absorbing compound and has a conjugate acid pKa of −8 or lower; and a curable compound.