title: Gold nanoparticles for in vivo cell tracking.
abstract: Cell-based therapy offers a promising solution for the treatment of diseases and injuries that conventional medicines and therapies cannot cure effectively, and thus comprises an encouraging arena for future medical breakthroughs. The development of an accurate and quantitative noninvasive cell tracking technique is a highly challenging task that could help in evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. Moreover, cell tracking could provide essential knowledge regarding the fundamental trafficking patterns and poorly understood mechanisms underlying the success or failure of cell therapy. This article focuses on gold nanoparticles, which provide cells with 'visibility' in a variety of imaging modalities for stem cell therapy, immune cell therapy and cancer treatment. Current challenges and future prospects relating to the use of gold nanoparticles in such roles are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Bar-Ilan University, Faculty of Engineering & the Institute of Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel.
authors.forename: Rinat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meir
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motiei
authors.forename: Rachela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popovtzer
mesh_terms: D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006046:Gold
keywords: cancer; cell therapy; cell tracking; computed tomography; gold nanoparticles; immune cells; in vivo imaging, noninvasive; photoacoustic; stem cells