In vivo "hot spot" MR imaging of neural stem cells using fluorinated nanoparticles.
To optimize (19)F MR tracking of stem cells, we compared cellular internalization of cationic and anionic perfluoro-15-crown-5-ether (PFCE) nanoparticles using cell culture plates with different surface coatings. The viability and proliferation of anionic and cationic PFCE-labeled neural stem cells (NSCs) did not differ from unlabeled cells. Cationic PFCE nanoparticles ((19)F T1/T2 = 580/536 ms at 9.4 Tesla) were superior to anionic particles for intracellular fluorination. Best results were obtained with modified polystyrene culture dishes coated with both carboxylic and amino groups rather than conventional carboxyl-coated dishes. After injecting PFCE-labeled NSCs into the striatum of mouse brain, cells were readily identified in vivo by (19)F MRI without changes in signal or viability over a 2-week period after grafting. These results demonstrate that neural stem cells can be efficiently fluorinated with cationic PFCE nanoparticles without using transfection agents and visualized in vivo over prolonged periods with an MR sensitivity of approximately 140 pmol of PFCE/cell.
Ruiz-Cabello
Jesús
J
Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. ruizcabe@farm.ucm.es
Walczak
Piotr
P
Kedziorek
Dorota A
DA
Chacko
Vadappuram P
VP
Schmieder
Anna H
AH
Wickline
Samuel A
SA
Lanza
Gregory M
GM
Bulte
Jeff W M
JW
D002460:Cell Line; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D004337:Drug Carriers; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes