The present invention relates to a magnetic nanoparticle having a Curie temperature which is within a biocompatible temperature range, a method for preparing same, and a nanocomposite and a target substance detection composition comprising the magnetic nanoparticle. As the magnetic nanoparticle of the present invention has a Curie temperature within the temperature range of 0 degrees centigrade to 41 degrees centigrade, the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticle may be controlled within a biocompatible temperature range at a temperature at which a biological control agent is not destroyed, and the temperature of the magnetic nanoparticle is adjusted to control the magnetic properties thereof such that the properties of the magnetic nanoparticle may be used only when ferromagnetic properties are required, such as in the case of signal amplification in detecting, separating, and delivering biological control agents. Accordingly, the magnetic nanoparticle of the present invention can minimize adverse effects of ferromagnetic properties thereof, and can be used in the effective detection and separation of biological control agents.

The present invention relates to the field of diagnostics and, more in particular, to MRI activatable contrast agents and compositions thereof for the detection of nuclease activity, wherein said nuclease activity is caused by microbial infection or by nuclease activity related to cancer, particularly colon cancer or pancreatic cancer. Activatable contrast agents for MRI have been developed, wherein the oligonucleotide is flanked by a paramagnetic and a superparamagnetic agent, and thus providing magnetic quenching. Moreover, the oligonucleotide has regions that confer resistance to mammalian endonucleases and sensitivity to microbial endonucleases. When the activatable contrast agent of the invention is in the presence of microbial nuclease activity or a tumour cell nuclease activity, the oligonucleotide is cleaved, agents are unquenched, and the signal derived from the activated contrast agent is detected by MRI.

The present invention concerns amphiphilic copolymers that may be photo- or redox-cleavable and that may assemble into polymersomes. It also concerns their process of preparation and their use as ding carriers.

The present invention provides a safe polymer nanoparticle composite with few side effects, and an MRI contrast agent incorporating said polymer nanoparticle composite. The polymer nanoparticle composite is capable of specifically accumulating on a tumor tissue to selectively extract the tissue, exhibiting high contrast even when used in small amounts, and enabling imaging over prolonged periods of time. This polymer nanoparticle composite is characterized by containing a block copolymer that includes a non-charged hydrophilic polymer chain segment and an anionic polymer chain segment, and MnCaP.

The present invention relates to a NDG-Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposite comprising a nitrogen doped graphene (NDG) and Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanoparticles. The NDG-Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposite is useful in bimodal performance including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The NDG-Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposites of the present invention caused significant cell death under laser irradiation, while control and Mn.sub.3O.sub.4 nanoparticles showed negligible cell death.

A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles is disclosed. The method comprises the step of performing phase transfer of a plurality of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands on a surface there of by contacting the metal oxide particles with a combination of tertiary amine and water to form a biphasic mixture, and agitating said biphasic mixture to produce an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands and tertiary amine ligands on the surface thereof.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits comprising core-satellite nanocomposites useful for photothermal and/or MRI applications (e.g., tumor treatment and/or imaging). In certain embodiments, the core-satellite nanocomposites comprise: i) a core nanoparticle complex comprising a biocompatible coating surrounding a nanoparticle core, and ii) at least one satellite component attached to, or absorbed to, the biocompatible coating. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle core and satellite component are composed of near-infrared photothermal agent material and/or MRI contrast agent material. In further embodiments, the satellite component is additionally or alternatively composed of near-infrared optical dye material.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide composite particles for imaging that have high biodegradability after imaging. To achieve the above purpose, the composite particles for imaging according to the present invention are configured such that the ratio (long-term residual amount/short-term residual amount) of a long-term residual amount, which is the average value of the contrast rate after six days in a cell and the contrast rate after 11 days in a cell of the same type, and a short-term residual amount, which is the contrast rate after two days in a cell of the same type, is less than 99%.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits comprising core-satellite nanocomposites useful for photothermal and/or MRI applications (e.g., tumor treatment and/or imaging). In certain embodiments, the core-satellite nanocomposites comprise: i) a core nanoparticle complex comprising a biocompatible coating surrounding a nanoparticle core, and ii) at least one satellite component attached to, or absorbed to, the biocompatible coating. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle core and satellite component are composed of near-infrared photothermal agent material and/or MRI contrast agent material. In further embodiments, the satellite component is additionally or alternatively composed of near-infrared optical dye material.

A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles is disclosed. The method comprises the step of performing phase transfer of a plurality of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands on a surface there of by contacting the metal oxide particles with a combination of tertiary amine and water to form a biphasic mixture, and agitating said biphasic mixture to produce an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands and tertiary amine ligands on the surface thereof.