Ligand-bimodal nanoparticle conjugates capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier are disclosed. Methods of making and using the conjugates also are disclosed. The bimodal nanoparticle includes a polymeric matrix, one or more magnetic particles disposed within the polymeric matrix or conjugated to an outer surface of the polymeric matrix, and a dye disposed within the polymeric matrix. A ligand for a blood-brain barrier amino acid transporter is conjugated to the outer surface of the bimodal nanoparticle.

[Problem]

A novel method for producing a nanoparticle having a metal particle which contains iron oxide to which one or more hydrophilic ligands are coordination bonded is provided, where the nanoparticle is useful as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging.

[Means for Solution]

As the novel method for producing a nanoparticle having a metal particle which contains iron oxide to which one or more hydrophilic ligands are coordination bonded, by performing ligand exchange to a hydrophilic ligand from an iron oxide nanoparticle having a surface to which a hydrophobic ligand is coordination bonded in one step using a phase transfer catalyst, it is possible to expect shortening of production processes and reduction of hydrophilic ligands used.

Furthermore, by producing an iron oxide nanoparticle having a surface to which a hydrophobic ligand is coordination bonded using a dropwise addition method, it is possible to avoid a rapid temperature rise and a reaction at a high temperature of 200° C. or higher, which is more advantageous for industrial production.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods using protein reporters as imaging agents in .sup.129Xe NMR and MRI applications. It is described that bla and MBP are genetically-encoded proteins that induce a detectable chemical shift during .sup.129Xe NMR, allowing for use as protein reporters in research and clinical applications.

Superparamagnetic nanocomposites are provided. In an embodiment, a superparamagnetic nanocomposite comprises a superparamagnetic core comprising a first, soft superparamagnetic ferrite and a superparamagnetic shell comprising a second, soft superparamagnetic ferrite, the shell formed over the core, wherein the first and second soft superparamagnetic ferrites are different compounds and have different magnetocrystalline anisotropies.

An embodiment includes a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam with visibility under both X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities. Dual modality visibility is achieved by chemically incorporating monomers with X-ray visible iodine-motifs and MRI visible monomers with gadolinium content. This material platform has the potential to be used in a variety of medical devices.

The disclosure provides nanoemulsion compositions and methods of making and using thereof to deliver a bioactive agent such as a nucleic acid to a subject. The nanoemulsion composition comprises a hydrophobic core based on inorganic nanoparticles in a lipid nanoparticle that allows imaging as well as delivering nucleic acids. Methods of using these particles for treatment and vaccination are also provided.

Gadolinium based contrast agents (GCA) incorporating linear ligand chelation are fundamentally different from GCAs incorporating macrocyclic ligands. The macrocyclic\GCAs are synthesized by pathways characterized by the formation of a sequence of metastable complexes before obtaining the final stable complex. The synthesis of linear GCAs do not form metastable complexes. Commercial macrocyclic GCAs contain unstable metastable complexes. These metastable species are not regulated and quickly release free Gd3+ ions upon administration into the body. Gadolinium based contrast agents with near zero metastable species content and methods of synthesizing the same are disclosed. Gadolinium based contrast agents with long dissociation time in the body, and low free Gd3+ ion formation are obtained using a synthesis method which departs in novel ways from the traditional free Gd3+-based synthesis methods.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for imaging nano magnetic particles using a 3D array of small magnets. A field-free region generation apparatus includes a hexahedral housing having an opening formed in the first surface thereof such that a measurement head is inserted into a spacing area, a pair of rectangular-shaped magnets installed respectively on two surfaces facing each other, among four surfaces perpendicular to the first surface of the housing, and a pair of magnet arrays installed respectively on the first surface of the housing and on another surface facing the first surface, each of the magnet arrays including multiple small magnets arranged along the edge of the opening.

A method of purifying a plurality of metal oxide particles produced from a synthesis process comprising the step of washing a plurality of metal oxide particles in a first solvent composition comprising of at least one aliphatic ether, and at least one flocculant. In one embodiment, the plurality of metal oxide particles are iron oxide particles produced from a thermal decomposition synthesis process between an iron-oleate complex and oleic acid in 1-octadecene, wherein the first solvent composition comprises a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of an aliphatic ether in the form of diethyl ether and a flocculant in the form of methanol. The washed iron oxide particles are further washed in a second solvent composition comprising a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of hexane and ethanol, and then finally dispersed in hexane. The resulting iron oxide particles find use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or as magnetic particles in magnetic separation, magnetism-directed targeting or magnetism-induced heating.

Silica nanocarriers hybridized with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (“SPIONs”) and curcumin through equilibrium or enforced adsorption technique. Methods for dual delivery of SPIONs and curcumin to a target for diagnosis or therapy, for example, for SPION-based magnetic resonance imaging or for targeted delivery of curcumin to a cell or tissue. The technique can be extend to co-precipitation of mixed metal oxide involving Ni, Mn, Co and Cu oxide. The calcination temperature can be varied from 500-900° C. The nanocombination is functionalized with chitosan, polyacrylic acid, PLGA or another agent to increase its biocompatibility in vivo.