title: Cell surface-engineering to embed targeting ligands or tracking agents on the cell membrane.
abstract: The key challenge to improve the efficacy of cell therapy is how to efficiently modify cells with a specific molecule or compound that can guide the cells to the target tissue. To address this, we have developed a cell surface engineering technology to non-invasively modify the cell surface. This technology can embed a wide variety of bioactive molecules on any cell surface and allow for the targeting of a wide range of tissues in a variety of disease states. Using our cell surface engineering technology, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)s were modified with: 1) a homing peptide or a recombinant protein to facilitate the migration of the cells toward a specific molecular target; or 2) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents to allow for in vivo tracking of the cells. The incorporation of a homing peptide or a targeting ligand on MSCs facilitated the migration of the cells toward their molecular target. MRI contrast agents were successfully embedded on the cell surfaces without adverse effects to the cells and the contrast agent-labeled cells were detectable by MRI. Our technology is a promising method of cell surface engineering that is applicable to a broad range of cell therapies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Kwang Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Electronic address: yw.won@utah.edu.
authors.forename: Young-Wook
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Electronic address: david.bull@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bull
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002465:Cell Movement; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000032:analysis; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000032:analysis; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000032:analysis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D003287:Contrast Media; D008024:Ligands; D010455:Peptides; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; C018525:1,2-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine
keywords: Cell delivery; Cell surface engineering; Cell tracking; Homing peptide; SPION