There is provided a method of manufacturing silica microspheres includes the steps of mixing acid and water to form a mixture; adding a silicon alkoxide to the mixture so as to precipitate microspheres; allowing the microspheres to settle into a sediment and removing a supernatant liquid; and immersing the microspheres in acid.

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.

The invention relates generally to a formulation in which metal tungstate or metal molybdate particles are encapsulated within biocompatible, diseased cell-targeting polymeric coatings. Such formulations render metal tungstate or metal molybdate particles suitable for in vivo biomedical imaging and therapeutic applications.

Provided herein are radiopharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof. The radiopharmaceutical compositions can comprise one or more stabilizing agents, an aqueous vehicle, and a conjugate that comprises a targeting ligand and a radionuclide bound to a metal chelator. The targeting ligand can be a small molecule compound or a peptide such as a monocyclic peptide. The targeting ligand can be configured to bind with a tumor target. The stabilizing agent can comprise a radiolysis stabilizer, a free metal chelator, and/or a pH stabilizer. Further provided herein are methods of preparing the radiopharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating cancer by administering the described radiopharmaceutical compositions.

Many drug therapies could be greatly improved by dosage forms that reside in the stomach for prolonged time and release the drug slowly. In this specification, therefore, a gastroretentive structured dosage form is disclosed. The dosage form comprises a solid core having at least a fluid-absorptive first excipient. The dosage form further comprises a semi-permeable surface layer substantially encapsulating said solid core. The surface layer comprises at least a mechanically strengthening second excipient. Upon ingestion, the surface layer-supported solid core expands with physiological fluid absorption and remains in the stomach for prolonged time.

The present invention provides soluble single wall nanotube (SWNT) constructs functionalized with a plurality of a targeting moiety and a plurality of one or more payload molecules attached thereto. The targeting moiety and the payload molecules may be attached to the soluble SWNT via a DNA or other oligomer platform attached to the SWNT. These soluble SWNT constructs may comprise a radionuclide or contrast agent and as such are effective as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Methods provided herein are to diagnosing or locating a cancer, treating a cancer, eliciting an immune response against a cancer or delivering an anticancer drug in situ via an enzymatic nanofactory using the soluble SWNT constructs.

Described herein are nanoprobes comprising ultrasmall aminated and cRGDY-conjugated nanoparticles labeled with Zirconium-89 (.sup.89Zr) and methods of their use. The provided compositions are renally clearable and possess suitable blood circulation half-time, high tumor active targeting capability, dominant renal clearance, low liver accumulation, and a high tumor-to-background ratio. The described nanoprobes exhibit great potential as “target-or-clear” tracers to human subjects for systemic targeted imaging (or treatment) of cancer.

The present invention relates to assemblies and method for obtaining a container comprising .sup.212Pb on the walls obtained from a .sup.212Pb precursor isotope source. The invention provides an improved system and method for producing .sup.212Pb high purity without the need for processing, with high yields, and which safely and efficiently can be transported to the locations where it is to be used.

Methods and compositions for inducing long-term tolerance by hybrid nanoparticles are provided. Compositions and formulations comprising hybrid nanoparticles with inherent affinity for innate immune cells are provided.

The invention describes method for delivering and positioning radio-isotopes. The method uses encapsulating free flowing medicament into a leak proof vehicle and positioning the vehicle into the body. Also provided is a system for delivering and positioning radio-isotopes into the body, the system comprising fluid radio-isotope encapsulated in a leak proof material and/or absorbable material.