Polymers, monomers, chromophoric polymer dots and related methods are provided. Highly fluorescent chromophoric polymer dots with narrow-band emissions are provided. Methods for synthesizing the chromophoric polymers, preparation methods for forming the chromophoric polymer dots, and biological applications using the unique properties of narrow-band emissions are also provided.

The present disclosure relates to methods of collecting and testing bacteria containing samples from within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The methods may include disposing an ingestible device in the GI tract, collecting a bacteria-containing sample from the GI tract, selectively lysing eukaryotic cells in the sample by combining the sample with a dried reagent, exposing bacteria in the sample to resazurin in the ingestible device to produce resorufin, emitting light from the ingestible device, the emitted light being filtered through an optical filter to control for scatter so that the light interacts with the resorufin to produce fluorescence, and measuring a total fluorescence from the resorufin; or a rate of change of fluorescence from the resorufin as a function of time within the GI tract of the subject; and correlating the measured parameter to a number of viable bacterial cells in the sample.

The current invention relates to the use of a neural network to improve the quality of images obtained from light scattered by an intermediate object that scatters light, such as tissue or a frosted screen. The invention relates to a method of imaging a human or animal bode using a nanocrystal array capable of fluorescing upon excitation from light from a near-infrared light source. This invention also relates to detection means and apparatus used in said methods, as well as to quantum dots useful in said use.

The present invention relates to providing fluorescent silica nanoparticles having high luminance even when many fluorescent dyes are contained in silica particles. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles according to the present invention is fluorescent silica nanoparticles including silica nanoparticles and fluorescent dyes contained in the silica nanoparticles, in which a total volume of the fluorescent dyes is 5% or more with respect to a total volume of the fluorescent silica nanoparticles, and an emission quantum yield of the fluorescent silica nanoparticles is 10% or more.

Fluorescent bimetallic nanocomposites (M.sub.1@M.sub.2-NCs) of silver-gold (Ag@Au-NC) and silver-platinum (Ag@Pt-NC) are prepared by reducing silver nitrate (AgNO.sub.3) on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) using sodium borohydride (NaBH.sub.4) at alkaline pH=11, in the presence of a lysozyme that acts as a template, and in the presence of a capping and stabilizing agent. The biocompatible bimetallic nanocomposites (M.sub.1@M.sub.2-NCs) have promising multifunctional applications (cell imaging, bio-sensing, therapeutics) observed by both in vitro as well as in vivo experiments. The fluorescent bimetallic nanocomposites (M.sub.1@M.sub.2-NCs) of silver-gold (Ag@Au-NC) and silver-platinum (Ag@Pt-NC) may be useful as an alternative nanomedicine in cancer theranostics applications.

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.

Disclosed are compositions that contain a plurality of biocompatible self-assembling molecules that transform from isolated molecules or spherical micelles while in blood serum into cylindrical nanofibers in the acidic extracellular environment of tumors, which can be used to achieve a higher relative concentration of imaging drug delivery, or radiotherapeutic agents at the tumor site compared to non-tumor tissues. This transition is rapid and reversible, indicating the system is in thermodynamic equilibrium.

Embodiments related to methods of use of an image analysis system for identifying residual cancer cells after surgery are disclosed. In some embodiments, the image analysis system collects a surgical site image and indicates on a display one or more locations of the identified cancer cells. In some embodiments, the method for identifying residual cancer cells comprises determining and selecting a portion of the surgical site image responsive to an intensity parameter; modifying the selected portion of the surgical site image to determine one or more groups of residual cancer cells based on size; and identifying at least one of the one or more groups of residual cancer cells from the modified portion of the surgical site image using a local-based threshold.

It is intended to provide a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent that can be used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) capable of utilizing infrared-spectrum light such as near-infrared light (NIR), infrared light, or far-infrared light, which attains a deep body penetration. The present invention provides a photodynamic therapeutic or diagnostic agent or a photodynamic therapeutic or diagnostic kit for cancer or infectious disease, comprising: a particle (e.g., a lanthanide particle) that emits upconversion luminescence by infrared-spectrum light such as near-infrared light having a wavelength of 0.7 μm to 2.5 μm; and a photosensitizer (e.g., porphyrin) or a 5-aminolevulinic acid group.

The present disclosure relates to method of performing an interventional procedure using flexible probes with a compound or a composition comprising the compound, wherein the compound comprises a targeting moiety, wherein the targeting moiety targets a receptor, antigen, or antibody and a fluorescence imaging agent.