title: Rapid synthesis of water-dispersible superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by a microwave-assisted route for safe labeling of endothelial progenitor cells.
abstract: We synthesize highly crystalline citrate-coated iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles that are stable and readily dispersible in water by an extremely fast microwave-assisted route and investigate the uptake of magnetic nanoparticles by endothelial cells. Nanoparticles form large aggregates when added to complete endothelial cell medium. The size of the aggregates was controlled by adjusting the ionic strength of the medium. The internalization of nanoparticles into endothelial cells was then investigated by transmission electron microscopy, magnetometry and chemical analysis, together with cell viability assays. Interestingly, a sevenfold more efficient uptake was found for systems with larger nanoparticle aggregates, which also showed significantly higher magnetic resonance imaging effectiveness without compromising cell viability and functionality. We are thus presenting an example of a straightforward microwave synthesis of citrate-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for safe endothelial progenitor cell labeling and good magnetic resonance cell imaging with potential application for magnetic cell guidance and in vivo cell tracking.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus de la UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carenza
authors.affiliation: Neurovascular Research Laboratory and Neurovascular Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129 Barcelona, 08035 Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.affiliation: Neurovascular Research Laboratory and Neurovascular Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129 Barcelona, 08035 Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morancho
authors.affiliation: Neurovascular Research Laboratory and Neurovascular Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129 Barcelona, 08035 Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.affiliation: Neurovascular Research Laboratory and Neurovascular Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129 Barcelona, 08035 Catalunya, Spain. Electronic address: anna.rosell@vhir.org.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosell
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus de la UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain. Electronic address: roig@icmab.es.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008872:Microwaves; D010316:Particle Size; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; D014867:Water; D019343:Citric Acid
keywords: Cellular uptake; Endothelial progenitor cells; Iron oxide nanoparticles; Magnetic resonance imaging; Microwave synthesis