Evaluation of gold nanotracers to track adipose-derived stem cells in a PEGylated fibrin gel for dermal tissue engineering applications.
Evaluating the regenerative capacity of a tissue-engineered device in a noninvasive and synchronous manner is critical to determining the mechanisms for success in clinical applications. In particular, directly tracking implanted cells in a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold is desirable in that it enables the monitoring of cellular activity in a specific and localized manner. The authors' group has previously demonstrated that the PEGylation of fibrin results in a 3D scaffold that supports morphologic and phenotypic changes in mesenchymal stem cells that may be advantageous in wound healing applications. Recently, the authors have evaluated adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) as a mesenchymal cell source to regenerate skin and blood vessels due to their potential for proliferation, differentiation, and production of growth factors. However, tracking and monitoring ASCs in a 3D scaffold, such as a PEGylated fibrin gel, have not yet been fully investigated. In the current paper, nanoscale gold spheres (20 nm) as cell tracers for ASCs cultured in a PEGylated fibrin gel were evaluated. An advanced dual-imaging modality combining ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging was utilized to monitor rat ASCs over time. The ASCs took up gold nanotracers and could be detected up to day 16 with high sensitivity using photoacoustic imaging. There were no detrimental effects on ASC morphology, network formation, proliferation, and protein expression/secretion (ie, smooth muscle α-actin, vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-9) associated with gold nanotracers. Therefore, utilization of gold nanotracers can be an effective strategy to monitor the regenerative process of a stem cell source in a 3D gel for vascular and dermal tissue engineering applications.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Eunna
E
Chung
Seung Yun
SY
Nam
Laura M
LM
Ricles
Stanislav Y
SY
Emelianov
Laura J
LJ
Suggs
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold; D005337:Fibrin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
adipose-derived stem cells; angiogenesis; fibrin; gold nanoparticles; tissue engineering; ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging