Various oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions containing an oil phase or oil core, preferably selected from vitamin E or oleic acid, stabilized by a sphingolipid of the sphingomyelin type, and optionally other lipids such as phospholipids, cholesterol, octadecylamine, DOTAP (N-[1-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy) propyl]-N, N, N-trimethylammonium methyl-sulfate), and PEGylated derivatives (derivatives with polyethylene glycol), for use as a nanotech vehicle, for example for the management of cancer and metastatic disease. Said nanoemulsions can be functionalized with ligands capable of interacting or binding to receptors expressed on the cell membrane of tumor cells, and in particular capable of interacting or binding to receptors expressed on the membrane of primary and/or disseminated or metastatic tumor cells. Also, antitumor drugs or therapeutic biomolecules can be encapsulated in said nanoemulsions and, finally, contrast agents can be incorporated for their use in the in vivo diagnosis in said nanoemulsions.

The present disclosure relates to an immunologically active peptide-biliverdin conjugate (I), a preparation method therefor and an application thereof in cancer diagnosis, and/or tumor immunotherapy, and/or tumor “photothermal immunotherapy” (tumor photothermal therapy combined with immunotherapy). The conjugate to which the present disclosure relates not only may stimulate an organism to generate a tumor-immune effect, but also may relieve and/or eliminate tumor inflammation, remodel a tumor inflammatory microenvironment and achieve photothermal cancer immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy. The conjugate to which the present disclosure relates has high biocompatibility, good stability and an extended half-life. The conjugate is prepared from an immunologically active peptide and biliverdin by means of chemical synthesis. A peptide end of the conjugate exercises the function of immunoregulation, and a pigment end thereof exercises functions such as tumor imaging diagnosis, tumor photo-thermal ablation, immune inflammatory microenvironment regulation and the like. The conjugate may significantly enhance the antitumor effect and effectively inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence.

Described herein is a contrast agent for administration to a subject. The contrast agent includes a targeting portion that includes a hydrazide functional group; a metal ion bound to a metal-complexable portion; and a linker joining the targeting portion and the metal-complexable portion of the contrast agent. The portion that is not bound to a metal ion localizes the contrast agent to necrotic tissue in the subject.

The subject invention pertains to a modified MC1R peptide ligand comprising a peptide that is a melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) ligand and a functionality or linker, such as a click functionality, for conjugation to a surface or agent. The modified MC1R peptide ligand can be coupled, e.g., via a click reaction with a complementary click functionality attached, to a moiety to form an MC1R-targeted agent. Drugs, contrast agents, polymers, particles, micelles, surfaces of larger structures, or other moieties can be targeted to the MC1R. The subject invention also pertains to a MC1R peptide ligand-micelle complex comprising a peptide that is a melanocortin 1 receptor ligand connected via a click reaction product to a micelle. The micelle is stable in vivo and can target melanoma tumor cells by association of the peptide ligand with the MC1R or the tumor and selectively provide a detectable and/or therapeutic agent (such as an imageable contrast agent and/or anti-cancer agent) selectively to the tumor cell.

The present disclosure provides compositions for in vivo imaging of hydrogen peroxide; and methods for detecting hydrogen peroxide in vivo. The compositions and methods find use in various diagnostic applications, which are also provided.

Photosensitive molecular switch, having a chelate ligand, a metal ion bonded coordinatively to the chelate ligand, the metal ion being selected from the group of metal ions consisting of Mn.sup.2+, Mn.sup.3+, Fe.sup.2+, Fe.sup.3+, Co.sup.2+ and Ni.sup.2+, a photochromic system which is bonded covalently to the chelate ligand and can be isomerized by irradiation, this system being bonded coordinatively to the metal ion in one configuration and not bonded to the metal ion in the other configuration.

An MRI contrast composition includes a liposome and a europium metal complex disposed within the liposome. The europium metal complex includes a europium metal ion and a multi-dentate ligand selected from the group consisting of cryptands and thiacryptands and one or more counter-ions that balances a charge of the europium metal ion and the multi-dentate ligand, the europium metal ion being switchable between a 2+ and 3+ oxidation state. The contrast composition advantageously provides an oxidation-responsive dual-mode contrast agent because it would enhance either T.sub.1-weighted images or CEST images depending on the oxidation state of Eu.

A marker for imaging includes a bio-dissolvable material and a contrast agent configured to provide contrast during an imaging procedure. A method can include forming a marker for imaging from a bio-dissolvable material and impregnating the bio-dissolvable material with a contrast agent. A method can include implanting a bio-dissolvable marker for imaging into a patient.

The subject invention pertains to a modified MC1R peptide ligand comprising a peptide that is a melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) ligand and a functionality or linker, such as a click functionality, for conjugation to a surface or agent. The modified MC1R peptide ligand can be coupled, e.g., via a click reaction with a complementary click functionality attached, to a moiety to form an MC1R-targeted agent. Drugs, contrast agents, polymers, particles, micelles, surfaces of larger structures, or other moieties can be targeted to the MC1R. The subject invention also pertains to a MC1R peptide ligand-micelle complex comprising a peptide that is a melanocortin 1 receptor ligand connected via a click reaction product to a micelle. The micelle is stable in vivo and can target melanoma tumor cells by association of the peptide ligand with the MC1R or the tumor and selectively provide a detectable and/or therapeutic agent (such as an imageable contrast agent and/or anti-cancer agent) selectively to the tumor cell.

The present invention relates to a method of preparation of formulations of lanthanide metal complexes of macrocyclic chelators which further comprise a small excess of free chelator. The method uses a solid phase-bound scavenger chelator to remove excess lanthanide metal ions, prior to the addition of a defined excess chelator. Also provided is a method of preparation of MRI contrast agents, together with solid-phase bound chelator meglumine salts useful in the methods.