title: Challenges facing in vivo tracking of mesenchymal stem cells used for tissue regeneration.
abstract: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly being investigated in the field of regenerative medicine. In vivo monitoring of MSCs can be performed with MRI, which is a non-invasive, non-toxic and clinically acceptable modality. In order to track these MSCs, cells must be labeled with detectable magnetic nanoparticles. However, they 'leak' from labeled cells, limiting their surveillance to a 3-week period. Li et al. developed a rodent model in order to evaluate MRI monitoring of intramuscularly injected aminopropyltriethoxysilane iron oxide-labeled MSCs. Both in vivo tracking and histological analysis were undertaken. Seeded MSCs demonstrated increased MRI signal in the labeled test group over 3 weeks compared with the unlabeled controls. Histological Prussian blue staining of posttermination tissues confirmed these findings. The authors conclude that successful labeling of MSCs is possible with aminopropyltriethoxysilane - magnetic nanoparticles and that these cells can be monitored in vivo. They offer this form of labeling as an alternative to more common dextran-coated magnetic nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplant and Vascular Access Department, St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Adam E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Frampton
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles