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.

The invention provides a novel class of cyanine dyes that are functionalized with sulfonic acid groups and a linker moiety that facilitates their conjugation to other species and substituent groups which increase the water-solubility, and optimize the optical properties of the dyes. Also provided are conjugates of the dyes, methods of using the dyes and their conjugates and kits including the dyes and their conjugates.

Sterile and non-toxic pharmaceutical compositions of near IR, closed chain, sulfo-cyanine dyes and methods for visualizing tissue under illumination with near-infrared radiation are provided.

The invention relates to a near-infrared fluorescent dye and use thereof, and particularly relates to compounds represented by following Formulae A, B and C, wherein each group in the Formulae is described in the specification. Further provided are a dye composition comprising the compound represented by Formula A or Formula B, and a preparation method of the compound represented by Formula A or Formula B. The compound has a maximum absorption wavelength of 880 nm, considerably exceeding maximum absorption wavelengths of the majority of small-molecule near-infrared fluorescent dyes in the prior art. Moreover, the structure thereof does not aggregate even if the concentration thereof is excessively high, thereby having considerably high chemical stability and light stability. ##STR00001##

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.

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.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cancer cell inhibitory drug, particularly a cancer stem-cell inhibitory drug, or a cancer stem-cell detection probe. The present invention provides a cancer cell inhibitory drug comprising at least one compound represented by general formula (1) as an active ingredient ##STR00001##

A color developing composition which develops colors in a high density and does not significantly discolor when aged, a lithographic printing plate precursor which has excellent plate-inspecting properties by means of color development and is capable of maintaining strong color development even when aged after color development, a plate making method for a lithographic printing plate in which the lithographic printing plate precursor is used, and a new compound that can be preferably used as a color developer. The color developing composition of the present invention includes a compound represented by Formula 1. The compound in the present invention is represented by Formula 1. In Formula 1, R.sup.1 represents a group in which an R.sup.1O bond is cleaved by heat or exposure to infrared rays. ##STR00001##

Glucose-sensing luminescent dyes, polymers, and sensors are provided. Additionally, systems including the sensors and methods of using these sensors and systems are provided.

A color developing composition containing a compound represented by the Formula (1) as defined herein, a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support and an image-recording layer containing the color developing composition, a method for producing a lithographic printing plate including: exposing the lithographic printing plate precursor in an image pattern; and removing a non-exposed portion in the image-recording layer using at least one of printing ink or dampening water on a printer, and a color developing compound represented by the Formula (1) as defined herein.