Tracking mesenchymal stromal cells using an ultra-bright TAT-functionalized plasmonic-active nanoplatform.
High-resolution tracking of stem cells remains a challenging task. An ultra-bright contrast agent with extended intracellular retention is suitable for in vivo high-resolution tracking of stem cells following the implantation. Here, a plasmonic-active nanoplatform was developed for tracking mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in mice. The nanoplatform consisted of TAT peptide-functionalized gold nanostars (TAT-GNS) that emit ultra-bright two-photon photoluminescence capable of tracking MSCs under high-resolution optical imaging. In vitro experiment showed TAT-GNS-labeled MSCs retained a similar differentiability to that of non-labeled MSCs controls. Due to their star shape, TAT-GNS exhibited greater intracellular retention than that of commercial Q-Tracker. In vivo imaging of TAT-GNS-labeled MSCs five days following intra-arterial injections in mice kidneys showed possible MSCs implantation in juxta-glomerular (JG) regions, but non-specifically in glomeruli and afferent arterioles as well. With future design to optimize GNS labeling specificity and clearance, plasmonic-active nanoplatforms may be a useful intracellular tracking tool for stem cell research. An ultra-bright intracellular contrast agent is developed using TAT peptide-functionalized gold nanostars (TAT-GNS). It poses minimal influence on the stem cell differentiability. It exhibits stronger two-photon photoluminescence and superior labeling efficiency than commercial Q-Tracker. Following renal implantation, some TAT-GNS-labeled MSCs permeate blood vessels and migrate to the juxta-glomerular region.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Hsiangkuo
H
Yuan
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis Research, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Jose A
JA
Gomez
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis Research, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Jennifer S
JS
Chien
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis Research, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Lunan
L
Zhang
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Christy M
CM
Wilson
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Shuqin
S
Li
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Andrew M
AM
Fales
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.|Department of Chemistry, Duke University, NC 27708, USA.
Yang
Y
Liu
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Gerald A
GA
Grant
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis Research, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Maria
M
Mirotsou
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Mandel Center for Hypertension and Atherosclerosis Research, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Victor J
VJ
Dzau
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. tuan.vodinh@duke.edu.|Department of Chemistry, Duke University, NC 27708, USA. tuan.vodinh@duke.edu.
Tuan
T
Vo-Dinh
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D006046:Gold
gold nanoparticle; imaging; mesenchymal stromal cell; plasmonic; tracking