title: A New Method for Preparing Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Labeling with Ferumoxytol for Cell Tracking by MRI.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are among the major stem cells used for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. In-vivo cell-tracking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for regenerative medicine, allowing verification that the transplanted cells reach the targeted sites. Cellular MRI combined with superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO) contrast agents is an effective cell-tracking method. Here, we are reporting a new "bio-mimicry" method by making use of the "in-vivo environment" of MSCs to prepare native MSCs, so that (i) the phagocytic activity of cultured MSCs can be recovered and expanded MSCs can be ex-vivo labeled with Ferumoxytol, which is currently the only FDA approved SPIO nanoparticles for human use. Using our new method, 7-day cultured MSCs regain the capability to take up Ferumoxytol and exhibit an intracellular iron concentration of 2.50 ± 0.50 pg/MSC, comparable to that obtained by using Ferumoxytol-heparin-protamine nanocomplex; and (ii) cells can be re-sized to more native size, reducing from 32.0 ± 7.2 μm to 19.5 ± 5.2 μm. Our method can be very useful for expanding MSCs and labeling with Ferumoxytol, without the need for transfection agents and/or electroporation, allowing cell-tracking by MRI in both pre-clinical and clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Lanya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Yijen L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Chien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide