A method for synthesising metal oxide nanoparticles. The method comprises mixing, to provide a reaction mixture, a precursor solution comprising metal ions with an initiator solution to initiate a nanoparticle precipitation process, and then quenching the precipitation process by adding a quenching agent to the reaction mixture so as to yield a dispersion comprising metal oxide nanoparticles. The resulting metal oxide nanoparticles may have an average diameter of less than 7 nm, for example 5 nm or less.

After a stroke the temporal course of microglial/macrophage activation is biphasic. The initial phase promotes neuroinflammation, while the later phase aids neurovascular recovery. Therefore the dynamics of stroke-induced cerebral microglial/macrophage activation are of substantial interest. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to the use of novel anti-Iba-1-targeted superparamagnetic FePt nanoparticles immunocelles in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the spatiotemporal course of the activation of microglia/macrophages in brain tissue at 7, 14, and 28 days post-stroke. Ischemic cerebral lesion areas are identified using T.sub.2-weighted MR images. After injection of FePt nanoparticles as immunocelles, quantitative contrast changes in T.sub.2*-weighted MR images showed that the nanoparticles were taken up solely in brain regions that coincided with areas of microglial/macrophage activation detected by post-mortem immunohistochemistry. There was observed good agreement between the locations of the Fe.sup.+-cells, as shown by Perl's staining for iron, and the Iba-V-microgiia/macrophages, The time course of nanoparticle uptake paralleled the changes of microglial/macrophage activation and phenotypes measured by immunohistochemistry over the four week period post-stroke. Maximum microglial/macrophage activation occurred seven days post-stroke for both measures, and the diminished activation found after two weeks continued to four weeks. The results evidence that nanoparticle-enhanced MRI constitute a novel approach for monitoring the dynamic development of neuroinflammation in living animals during the progression and treatment of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. The implications and methods for diagnosis and monitoring therapy of stroke and other disease states and conditions are presented.

The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of gadobenate dimeglumine complex in a solid form. In particular, said solid form is conveniently obtained by spray-drying a corresponding liquid suspension at a given temperature and concentration. The present invention is particularly advantageous for the industrial scale as the solid form may be obtained by employing water as a solvent, which is a non-toxic solvent, easy to handle and basically not requiring troublesome health or safety precautions.

The present invention describes methods and compositions for non-invasively assessing the molecular structure of biocompatible hydrogels using MRI analysis. It is shown that biocompatible hydrogels prepared from polymerizing macromolecules that are attached to a paramagnetic, superparamagnetic or ferromagnetic contrast agents form reporter gels wherein monitoring of the changes in the structure of the hydrogels by MRI is facilitated by the presence of such paramagnetic, superparamagnetic or ferromagnetic agents in the biocompatible hydrogel.

Multivalent CT or MR contrast agents and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The agents contain a moiety, such as a polymer, that provides multivalent attachment of CT or MR contrast agents. Examples include, but are not limited to, multivalent linear polymers, branched polymers, or hyperbranched polymers, such as dendrimers, and combinations thereof. The dendrimer is functionalized with one or more high Z-elements, such as iodine. The high Z-elements can be covalently or non-covalently bound to the dendrimer. The dendrimers are confined in order to enhance CT contrast. In some embodiments, the moiety is confined by encapsulating the dendrimers in a material to form particles, such as nanoparticles. In other embodiments, the dendrimer is confined by conjugating the moiety to a material, such as a polymer, which forms a gel upon contact with bodily fluids.

Injectable compositions for the MRI detection of an analyte selected from the group consisting of reactive oxygen species, proteases and enzymes, comprising a) a matrix material based on a responsive hydrophobic polymer capable of undergoing a chemical reaction with the analyte to be detected, such reaction leading to a disruption of the polymer chain of the responsive polymer, b) a contrast agent suitable for use in magnetic resonance imaging, embedded in or encapsulated in the polymer a), c) optionally, a functionality capable of binding a marker or probe or a probe for creating a second detection signal, and d) optionally, a non-responsive polymer not undergoing a chemical reaction with the analyte under the conditions where polymer a) undergoes a reaction leading to chain breakage

Provided are iron oxide nanocapsules for an MRI contrast agent having high contrast, in which a plurality of iron oxide nanoparticles having a hydrophobic ligand attached thereto are encapsulated in an encapsulation material including a biodegradable polymer and a surfactant, and which satisfy Relations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 below. Also a method of manufacturing the iron oxide nanocapsules is provided.
5≦100*D.sub.μ(IO)/C.sub.ω(IO)  [Relation 1]
2.5≦100*D.sub.μ(Cap)/C.sub.ω(Cap)  [Relation 2]
0.5 wt %≦F(IO)≦50 wt %  [Relation 3]
1 nm≦D.sub.μ(IO)≦25 nm  [Relation 4]
50 nm≦D.sub.μ(Cap)≦200 nm  [Relation 5]

A composition including magnetic nanoparticles for use in the treatment of a tissue volume including pathological cells in an individual, wherein a portion only of the tissue volume is occupied by the magnetic nanoparticles upon administration of the composition to the individual and the magnetic nanoparticles are excited by radiation.

The invention provides a novel class of clearable, tumor-targeting and human protein-based MRI nanoprobes and contrast agents and their compositions, and methods of preparation and use thereof.

The invention relates to non-biodegradable embolisation microspheres comprising a cross-linked matrix, the matrix being based on at least: a) from 20% to 95% of hydrophilic monomer; b) from 1% to 15% of a non-biodegradable hydrophilic cross-linking monomer; and c) from 1.5% to less than 6% of transfer agent selected from alkyl halides and cycloaliphatic or aliphatic thiols having in particular from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, and optionally having another functional group selected from amino, hydroxy and carboxy groups. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising non-biodegradable embolisation microspheres according to the invention in conjunction with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, advantageously for parenteral administration. The invention further relates to a kit comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising non-biodegradable embolisation microspheres according to the invention in conjunction with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for parenteral administration, and at least one injection means.