MRI-detectable pH nanosensors incorporated into hydrogels for in vivo sensing of transplanted-cell viability.
Biocompatible nanomaterials and hydrogels have become an important tool for improving cell-based therapies by promoting cell survival and protecting cell transplants from immune rejection. Although their potential benefit has been widely evaluated, at present it is not possible to determine, in vivo, if and how long cells remain viable following their administration without the use of a reporter gene. Here, we report a pH-nanosensor-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that can monitor cell death in vivo non-invasively. We demonstrate that specific MRI parameters that change on cell death of microencapsulated hepatocytes are associated with the measured bioluminescence imaging radiance. Moreover, the readout from this pH-sensitive nanosensor can be directly co-registered with high-resolution anatomical images. All of the components of these nanosensors are clinical grade and hence this approach should be a translatable and universal modification of hydrogels.
The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Kannie W Y
KW
Chan
Guanshu
G
Liu
Xiaolei
X
Song
Heechul
H
Kim
Tao
T
Yu
Dian R
DR
Arifin
Assaf A
AA
Gilad
Justin
J
Hanes
Piotr
P
Walczak
Peter C M
PC
van Zijl
Jeff W M
JW
Bulte
Michael T
MT
McMahon
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002470:Cell Survival; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D020100:Hydrogels; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D049329:Nanostructures
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003287:Contrast Media; D020100:Hydrogels