title: Long-term tracking of cells using inorganic nanoparticles as contrast agents: are we there yet?
abstract: The use of inorganic nanoparticles as probes to label and track cells in vivo is already a reality. While superparamagnetic nanoparticles have been the subject of clinical studies involving magnetic resonance imaging, quantum dots and gold nanoparticles are starting to be explored for similar goals in pre-clinical studies involving fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. Although exciting results have been obtained from in vivo investigations, there appears to be a general lack of understanding on the effects of physicochemical properties on the labelling efficiency and toxicity of those nanoparticles, as well as on their stability in the intracellular microenvironment; essential requirements for using them as probes for cellular tracking. In this tutorial review, we look at what the current literature can teach us in respect to cell interactions with these nanoparticles, with the perspective of using them as probes for cell labelling. We also examine the findings obtained in pre-clinical studies that expose potential misinterpretation that can occur when using inorganic nanoparticles for in vivo imaging.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 3BX, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Fernig
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lévy
mesh_terms: D058948:Cell Tracking; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D006046:Gold