Disclosed herein, inter alia, are compositions and methods of modulating macrophage activity. Provided is a method of treating a disease (e.g., a macrophage-associated disease, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, or a cancer of an organ in the intraperitoneal cavity), the method including intraperitoneally administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a nanoparticle composition or pharmaceutical composition. Provided is a silica nanoparticle non-covalently bound to a plurality of nucleic acids, wherein the silica nanoparticle has a net positive charge in the absence of the plurality of nucleic acids. Provided is a pharmaceutical composition including a nanoparticle composition as described herein, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

A system for reducing toxicity from intravascular triggered drug delivery includes a chamber comprising an inflow port, an outflow port, and a filter positioned upstream of the outflow port. A trigger module is configured to trigger the release of a drug from an intravascular triggered drug delivery system present in blood in the chamber. A method for reducing toxicity from intravascular triggered drug delivery includes the steps of removing blood comprising an intravascular triggered drug delivery system from a patient's vascular system and delivering the blood to a chamber, applying a trigger to the blood to release a drug from the intravascular triggered drug delivery system, filtering the drug from the blood, and returning the filtered blood to the patient.

A tracer detection device includes an enclosed body, and a plurality of tracer sensors, a battery, a memory, and a transmitter, each disposed within the enclosed body. The plurality of tracer sensors is configured to detect measurement values at a surface and underneath the surface of a gastrointestinal tract. The battery is configured to power the plurality of tracer sensors. The memory is configured to receive measurement values detected by the plurality of tracer sensors. The transmitter is configured to transmit measurement values detected by the plurality of tracer sensors to an external device after the enclosed body has passed through the gastrointestinal tract. The enclosed body includes a steering feature that ensures the enclosed body is oriented in an intended direction. The plurality of tracer sensors triggers release of a drug. The plurality of tracer sensors estimate distances to gastrointestinal walls for normalizing signals.

Metastable liposomal formulations for hydrophobic drug delivery to a tissue or tissue lumen such the bladder have been developed. These are at least one micron in diameter and formed of one or more lipids having entrapped in the lipid a hydrophobic therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent. The greater stability of these liposomes, as well as the enhanced transfer of entrapped agent into the adjacent tissue, provides for better delivery, especially of hydrophobic agents such as tacrolimus which does not penetrate tissue well. The metastable liposomal formulations can be administered locally, preferably by instillation, or topically, for example, by spraying or painting, to a tissue or tissue lumen such as the bladder in need of treatment.

Dimer and monomer molecules according to general formulas (I) or (II) are useful as lipid switch molecules when incorporated into a membrane of a liposome.

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrophobic tail having at least 6 carbons and wherein R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of —NH.sub.2,

##STR00002##

wherein, for the dimer, the linker is a saturated carbon chain having 2 to 6 carbons or is a para-xylene linker; and when R.sup.2 is charged anions are present to render the charge neutral. These molecules can bind ATP or similar small phosphorylated molecules between R.sup.2 groups, which changes the shape of the molecule or the molecules orientation within the membrane thereby acting as a “switch” to release a therapeutic agent from the liposome.

A composition for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications includes a heteromultivalent nanoparticle or microparticle having an outer surface and a plurality of targeting moieties conjugated to the surface of the nanoparticle or microparticle, the targeting moieties includes a first activated platelet targeting moiety and a second activated platelet targeting moiety.

The invention relates to a nanostructured delivery system comprising at least one polymer and/or at least one lipid and at least one polymethine dye, wherein the at least one polymethine dye acting as a targeting unit brings about the targeted transport of the nanostructured delivery system into a target issue. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition and the uses of the nanostructured delivery system for transporting said system and, optionally, a pharmaceutical active ingredient into the target tissue, as well for treating liver and/or kidney diseases.

The disclosed compositions and methods relate to an immunogenic composition that, in certain aspects, comprise cationic liposomes; a mixture of toll like receptor 3 (TLR3) and toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) ligands; and a cellular adhesion agent, and methods of using such compositions. In certain aspects, disclosed compositions are administered to a mammal to induce a non-specific innate immune response at mucosal surfaces. In further aspects, disclosed compositions are administered to a mammal in conjunction with an antigen to enhance the immune response of the mammal to the antigen.

A theranostic composition and method for determining the cell-specific potency of drugs is provided. Further, compositions and methods useful for studying the therapeutic profile of one or more drugs within a cell microenvironment, including but not limited to a tumor, are provided.

According to some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions and methods for making and using multifunctional polymerized liposomes finding relevant application in medical sciences, particularly in bioimaging, diagnostics, drug delivery, and drug formulation. The compositions and methods involve lipids that are both polymerizable and have a “clickable” group that provides the ability to functionalize via a click reaction with various functional moieties useful for the above-listed applications.