The invention relates to novel biocompatible hybrid nanoparticles of very small size, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy.

The purpose of the invention is to offer novel nanoparticles which are useful in particular as contrast agents in imaging (e.g. MRI) and/or in other diagnostic techniques and/or as therapeutic agents, which give better performance than the known nanoparticles of the same type and which combine both a small size (for example less than 20 nm) and a high loading with metals (e.g. rare earths), in particular so as to have, in imaging (e.g. MRI), strong intensification and a correct response (increased relaxivity) at high frequencies. The method for the production of these nanoparticles and the applications thereof in imaging and in therapy also form part of the invention.

The invention relates to novel biocompatible hybrid nanoparticles of very small size, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy. The purpose of the invention is to offer novel nanoparticles which are useful in particular as contrast agents in imaging (e.g. MRI) and/or in other diagnostic techniques and/or as therapeutic agents, which give better performance than the known nanoparticles of the same type and which combine both a small size (for example less than 20 nm) and a high loading with metals (e.g. rare earths), in particular so as to have, in imaging (e.g. MRI), strong intensification and a correct response (increased relaxivity) at high frequencies. Thus, the nanoparticles according to the invention, with diameter d.sub.1 between 1 and 20 nm, each comprise a polyorganosiloxane (POS) matrix including gadolinium cations optionally associated with doping cations; a chelating graft C.sup.1 DTPABA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid bisanhydride) bound to the POS matrix by an —Si—C— covalent bond, and present in sufficient quantity to be able to complex all the gadolinium cations; and optionally another functionalizing graft Gf* bound to the POS matrix by an —Si—C— covalent bond (where Gf* can be derived from a hydrophilic compound (PEG); from a compound having an active ingredient PA1; from a targeting compound; from a luminescent compound (fluorescein). The method for the production of these nanoparticles and the applications thereof in imaging and in therapy also form part of the invention.

The present invention provides nanoparticles comprising a) a micelle comprising an amphiphilic polymer with a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 20,000 g/mol or less, and b) at least one peptide comprising at least one T cell epitope. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these nanoparticles and the use of the compositions for suppressing specific immune responses.

Deuterated polymer-biomolecule conjugates and the synthesis and use of deuterated polymer-biomolecule conjugates for detecting the location of specific molecules, e.g., cell surface molecules, in a subject, and for imaging various processes within the body, for detecting the location of molecules associated with disease pathology, and for monitoring disease progression are disclosed.

The invention relates to novel biocompatible hybrid nanoparticles of very small size, useful in particular for diagnostics and/or therapy.

The purpose of the invention is to offer novel nanoparticles which are useful in particular as contrast agents in imaging (e.g. MRD and/or in other diagnostic techniques and/or as therapeutic agents, which give better performance than the known nanoparticles of the same type and which combine both a small size (for example less than 20 nm) and a high loading with metals (e.g. rare earths), in particular so as to have, in imaging (e.g. MRI), strong intensification and a correct response (increased relaxivity) at high frequencies.

Thus, the nanoparticles according to the invention, with diameter d.sub.1 between 1 and 20 nm, each comprise a polyorganosiloxane (POS) matrix including gadolinium cations optionally associated with doping cations; a chelating graft C.sup.1 DTPABA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid bisanhydride) bound to the POS matrix by an —Si—C— covalent bond, and present in sufficient quantity to be able to complex all the gadolinium cations; and optionally another functionalizing graft Gf* bound to the POS matrix by an —Si—C— covalent bond (where Gf* can be derived from a hydrophilic compound (PEG); from a compound having an active ingredient PA1; from a targeting compound; from a luminescent compound (fluorescein).

The method for the production of these nanoparticles and the applications thereof in imaging and in therapy also form part of the invention.

Provided are a contrast agent for optical imaging, a use thereof and an apparatus using the same. The contrast agent for optical imaging of the present disclosure allows optical imaging without requiring a fluorophore or a luminophore. As a result, the optical images can be acquired without changing the physicochemical properties of a substrate. The contrast agent for optical imaging of the present disclosure may be used as an optical/nuclear bimodal imaging contrast agent for many applications, and allows radiation therapy as well as monitoring of a therapeutic effect thereof through optical imaging at the same time. Further, when a fluorophore is attached thereto, light emission may be enhanced without energy input from outside since light is emitted from the fluorophore, thereby increasing luminescence intensity and improving tissue penetration.

Provided are compositions and methods for transport, monitoring the transport, and controlled release of active agents. The compositions comprise surface functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles. The iron oxide nanoparticles are surface functionalized with cucurbitril[7] macrocycles. The cavity formed by the CB[7] macrocycles can be used for storage and transport of active agents. The active agents may be imaging agents or may be therapeutic agents which can be released by applying an alternating magnetic field at desired locations.

Nanoparticle-sized magnetic absorption enhancers (MAEs) exhibiting a controlled response to a magnetic field, including a controlled mechanical response and an inductive thermal response. The MAEs have a magnetic material that exhibits inductive thermal response to the magnetic field and is embedded in a coating, such that the MAE conforms to a particular shape, e.g., hemisphere, dome or shell, chosen to produce the controlled mechanical response. A targeting moiety for specifically binding the MAE to a pathogen target is also provided. The MAEs can be bound by a flexible linker to promote the desired mechanical response, which includes interactions between MAEs that are not bound to any pathogen target for the purpose of forming spheres, spherical shells, or generally spherical dimers to contain the thermal energy produced and to thus reduce collateral healthy tissue damage during hyperthermic treatment.

The present application discloses treating water insoluble nanoparticles, particularly nanoparticles of metals and metal compounds which find utility in diagnostic imaging such as MR and X-ray imaging, with an alpha-hydroxyphosphonic acid conjugate with a hydrophilic moiety to render the nanoparticles sufficiently hydrophilic to find utility in diagnostic imaging. Among the modified hydrophilic nanoparticles disclosed are those in which the hydrophilic moieties of the modifying conjugate are ethylene oxide based polymers and copolymers and zwitterions and the nanoparticles are composed of transition metal oxides such as superparamagnetic iron oxide and tantalum oxide. Disclosed are nanoparticles which are sufficiently hydrophilic to form stable aqueous colloidal suspensions. Also disclosed is diagnostic imaging such as MR and X-ray using the modified hydrophilic nanoparticles as contrast agents.

The present invention relates to a nanoformulated self-assembled pharmaceutical composition for photodynamic therapy. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a self-assembled pharmaceutical composition for photodynamic therapy comprising a photosensitizer, a ligand A which is separated at a specific pH range, and a ligand B of which surface charge changes at a specific pH range and a method for manufacturing the same.