| abstract |
This invention relates to a highly effective nanoparticle system for stabilizing near-infrared (near-IR) fluorescent dyes such as indocyanine (ICG) in order to enhance the dye's utility for biomedical application. This invention further relates to nanoparticles comprised of biodegradable polymer materials such as poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA). The invention also relates to methods of preparing the nanoparticle-entrapped dyes, as well as methods for using them in bioimaging, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. The present invention also relates to compositions and kits comprising nanoparticle-entrapped dyes. |