title: Magnetic resonance imaging probes for labeling of chondrocyte cells.
abstract: Recent progress in cell therapy research has raised the need for non-invasive monitoring of transplanted cells. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeled cells have been widely used for high resolution monitoring of the biodistribution of cells after transplantation. Here we report that self-assembly of amphiphilic polyethylenimine (PEI)/SPIO nanocomposites can lead to the formation of ultrasensitive MRI probes, which can be used to label chondrocyte cells with good biocompatibility. The labeled cells display strong signal contrast compared to unlabeled ones in a clinical MRI scanner. This probe may be useful for noninvasive MR tracking of implanted cells for tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chunchao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Fabao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Qiyong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.forename: Zhongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; C000499:ferric oxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine