The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic cells comprising single-celled organisms that are introduced into the eukaryotic cell through human intervention and which transfer to daughter cells of the eukaryotic cell, and methods of introducing such single-celled organisms into eukaryotic cells. The invention provides single-celled organisms that introduce a phenotype to eukaryotic cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic cells containing magnetic bacteria. The invention further provides eukaryotic cells engineered with single-celled organisms to allow for multimodal observation of the eukaryotic cells. Each imaging method (or modality) allows the visualization of different aspects of anatomy and physiology, and combining these allows the imager to learn more about the subject being imaged.

Intravenous ferumoxytol is used to effectively label mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vivo and is used for in vivo tracking of stem cell transplants with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The method eliminates risk of contamination and biologic alteration of MSCs associated with ex-vivo-labeling procedures.

Methods of ex vivo labeling of a biological material for in vivo imaging, methods of labeling a biological material in vivo, methods for preparing a labeling agent, and methods for in vivo imaging of a subject using a biological material labeled with a labeling agent are disclosed. In one non-limiting example, the biological material is selected from cells and the labeling agent is a .sup.89Zr-Desferrioxamine-NCS labeling agent.

A nanoparticle for diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or theranostic applications includes a rod-shaped plant virus like particle (VLP), one or more gadolinium T.sub.1 contrast agents conjugated to an interior surface of the VLP, and a layer of polydopamine (PDA) coated over a portion of the exterior surface of the VLP.

A method for directing therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells to selected locations within the body and/or for retaining therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells at selected locations within the body, the method comprising: providing an article comprising a body of material configured to be secured about the body of a patient and having a plurality of pockets thereon, wherein each pocket is sized to receive and retain one or more magnets therein; injecting therapeutic USPIO nanoparticle-containing cells into a target therapy site; securing the article to the body of the patient; and inserting at least one magnet into at least one pocket so as to provide a desired magnetic field for further directing therapeutic nanoparticle-labelled cells to a target therapy site and/or for retaining therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells at the target therapy site.

The invention relates to a method for preparing PHFs-like Tau aggregates and to a method for identifying compounds that are inhibitors of Tau protein aggregation, blockers of Tau seeding and propagation, and imaging agents that specifically bind PHF.

A method for directing therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells to selected locations within the body and/or for retaining therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells at selected locations within the body, the method comprising: providing an article comprising a body of material configured to be secured about the body of a patient and having a plurality of pockets thereon, wherein each pocket is sized to receive and retain one or more magnets therein; injecting therapeutic USPIO nanoparticle-containing cells into a target therapy site; securing the article to the body of the patient; and inserting at least one magnet into at least one pocket so as to provide a desired magnetic field for further directing therapeutic nanoparticle-labelled cells to a target therapy site and/or for retaining therapeutic nanoparticle-labeled cells at the target therapy site.

A rod-shaped plant virus having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and at least one imaging agent that is linked to the interior and/or exterior surface is described. The rod-shaped viruses can be combined into larger spherical nanoparticles. A rod-shaped plant virus or spherical nanoparticles including an imaging agent can be used in a method of generating an image of a tissue region of a subject such as a tumor or atherosclerotic tissue by administering the virus particle to the subject and generating an image of the tissue region of the subject to which the virus particle has been distributed.

The invention is directed to the field of gene therapy, i.e. gene delivery into target cells, tissue, organ and organism, and more particularly to gene delivery via viral vectors. The inventors showed that it is possible by chemical coupling to modulate the coupling of a ligand in the surface of the capsid of AAV, for example AAV2 and AAV3b. In particular, the present invention relates to a recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle having at least one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins, chemically coupled with at least one ligand L, wherein coupling of said ligand L is implemented through a bond comprising a —CSNH— bond and an optionally substituted aromatic moiety. Particularly, the inventors tested the chemical coupling of mannose ligand on AAV2 for subretinally injection to rats. The present invention further relates to a method for chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector particle with at least one ligand L and to a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle obtained by said method as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising it and their corresponding medical use.

A nanoparticle for diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or theranostic applications includes a rod-shaped plant virus like particle (VLP), one or more gadolinium T.sub.1 contrast agents conjugated to an interior surface of the VLP, and a layer of polydopamine (PDA) coated over a portion of the exterior surface of the VLP.