title: In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of single cells in mouse brain with optical validation.
abstract: In the current work we demonstrate, for the first time, that single cells can be detected in mouse brain in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cells were labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and injected into the circulation of mice. Individual cells trapped within the microcirculation of the brain could be visualized with high-resolution MRI using optimized MR hardware and the fast imaging employing steady state acquisition (FIESTA) pulse sequence on a 1.5 T clinical MRI scanner. Single cells appear as discrete signal voids on MR images. Direct optical validation was provided by coregistering signal voids on MRI with single cells visualized using high-resolution confocal microscopy. This work demonstrates the sensitivity of MRI for detecting single cells in small animals for a wide range of application from stem cell to cancer cell tracking.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. cheyn@imaging.robarts.ca
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heyn
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ronald
authors.forename: Lisa T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Rutt
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003911:Dextrans; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D007501:Iron / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010087:Oxides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D007501:Iron; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide