title: Ultra-fast stem cell labelling using cationised magnetoferritin.
abstract: Magnetic cell labelling with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) facilitates many important biotechnological applications, such as cell imaging and remote manipulation. However, to achieve adequate cellular loading of SPIONs, long incubation times (24 hours and more) or laborious surface functionalisation are often employed, which can adversely affect cell function. Here, we demonstrate that chemical cationisation of magnetoferritin produces a highly membrane-active nanoparticle that can magnetise human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) using incubation times as short as one minute. Magnetisation persisted for several weeks in culture and provided significant T2* contrast enhancement during magnetic resonance imaging. Exposure to cationised magnetoferritin did not adversely affect the membrane integrity, proliferation and multi-lineage differentiation capacity of hMSCs, which provides the first detailed evidence for the biocompatibility of magnetoferritin. The combination of synthetic ease and flexibility, the rapidity of labelling and absence of cytotoxicity make this novel nanoparticle system an easily accessible and versatile platform for a range of cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1FD, UK. S.Carreira@bristol.ac.uk and H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK. W.Schwarzacher@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Correia Carreira
authors.affiliation: School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
authors.forename: J P K
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1FD, UK. S.Carreira@bristol.ac.uk and H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK. W.Schwarzacher@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Seddon
authors.affiliation: School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Perriman
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering, Innovation, and Research Hub, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, St. Michael's Hospital, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EG, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hartley-Davies
authors.affiliation: H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK. W.Schwarzacher@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwarzacher
mesh_terms: D001052:Apoferritins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; C088922:magnetoferritin; D001052:Apoferritins; D007501:Iron