Advances in Monitoring Cell-Based Therapies with Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Future Perspectives

Preparation of Hematoporphyrin-Poly(Lactic Acid) Nanoparticles Encapsulated Perfluoropentane/Salicylic Acid for Enhanced US/CEST MR Bimodal Imaging

Background

Medical imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and fluorescence imaging, have gained widespread acceptance in clinical practice for tumor diagnosis. Each imaging modality has its own unique principles, advantages, and limitations, thus necessitating a multimodal approach for a comprehensive disease understanding of the disease process. To enhance diagnostic precision, physicians frequently integrate data from multiple imaging modalities, driving research advancements in multimodal imaging technology research.

Methods

In this study, hematoporphyrin-poly (lactic acid) (HP-PLLA) polymer was prepared via ring-opening polymerization and thoroughly characterized using FT-IR, 1H-NMR, XRD, and TGA. HP-PLLA based nanoparticles encapsulating perfluoropentane (PFP) and salicylic acid were prepared via emulsion-solvent evaporation. Zeta potential and mean diameter were assessed using DLS and TEM. Biocompatibility was evaluated via cell migration, hemolysis, and cytotoxicity assays. Ultrasonic imaging was performed with a dedicated apparatus, while CEST MRI was conducted using a 7.0 T animal scanner.

Results

We designed and prepared a novel dual-mode nanoimaging probe SA/PFP@HP-PLLA NPs. PFP enhanced US imaging, while salicylic acid bolstered CEST imaging. With an average size of 74.43 ± 1.12 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.175 ± 0.015, and a surface zeta potential of -64.1 ± 2.11 mV. These NPs exhibit excellent biocompatibility and stability. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the SA/PFP@HP-PLLA NP's ability to improve tumor characterization and diagnostic precision.

Conclusion

The SA/PFP@HP-PLLA NPs demonstrate promising dual-modality imaging capabilities, indicating their potential for preclinical and clinical use as a contrast agent.

ADSCs labeled with SPIONs tracked in corpus cavernosum of rat and miniature pig by MR imaging and histological examination

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been shown to improve erectile function in animal models of erectile dysfunction. However, few studies have been carried out using a reliable in vivo imaging method to trace transplanted cells in real time, which is necessary for systematic investigation of cell therapy. The study aims to explore the feasibility of non-invasively monitoring intracavernous injection of ADSCs in rat and miniature pig corpus cavernosum using in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats (10 weeks old) and six healthy, sexually mature male miniature pigs (20 kg weight) were obtained. ADSCs were isolated from paratesticular fat of donor rats and cultured. Then ADSCs were labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), a type of MR imaging contrast agent, before transplantation into rats and pigs. After intracavernous injection, all rats and pigs underwent and were analyzed by MR imaging at the day of ADSC transplantation and follow-up at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after transplantation. In addition, penile histological examination was performed on all rats and pigs before (n = 6) and at 1 day (n = 6), 1 week (n = 6), 2 weeks (n = 6) or 4 weeks (n = 12) after ADSC transplantation. SPION-labeled ADSCs demonstrated a strong decreased signal intensity compared with distilled water, unlabeled ADSCs or agarose gel. SPION-labeled ADSCs showed a hypointense signal at all concentrations, and the greatest hypointense signal was observed at the concentration of 1 × 106. MR images of the corpus cavernosum showed a hypointense signal located at the injection site. T2*-weighted signal intensity increased over the course of 1 week after ADSCs transplantation, and demonstrated a similar MR signal with that before ADSCs transplantation. After SPION-labeled ADSC injection, T2*-weighted MR imaging clearly demonstrated a marked hypointense signal in pig corpus cavernosum. The T2*-weighted signal faded over time, similar to the MR imaging results in rats. Obvious acute inflammatory exudation was induced by intracavernous injection, and the T2*-weighted signal intensity of these exudation was higher than that of the injection site. The presence of iron was detected by Prussian blue staining, which demonstrated ADSC retention in rat corpus cavernosum. Lack of cellular infiltrations were demonstrated by H&E staining before and 4 weeks after transplantation, which indicated no negative immune response by rats. Prussian blue staining was positive for iron oxide nanoparticles at 2 weeks after transplantation. SPION-labeled ADSCs showed a clear hypointense signal on T2-weight MRI in vitro and in vivo. The MR signal intensity in the corpus cavernosum of the rats and miniature pigs faded and disappeared over time after ADSC transplantation. These findings suggested that MR imaging could trace transplanted ADSCs in the short term in the corpus cavernosum of animals.

Functional Diversity in Radiolabeled Nanoceramics and Related Biomaterials for the Multimodal Imaging of Tumors

Nanotechnology advances have the potential to assist toward the earlier detection of diseases, giving increased accuracy for diagnosis and helping to personalize treatments, especially in the case of noncommunicative diseases (NCDs) such as cancer. The main advantage of nanoparticles, the scaffolds underpinning nanomedicine, is their potential to present multifunctionality: synthetic nanoplatforms for nanomedicines can be tailored to support a range of biomedical imaging modalities of relevance for clinical practice, such as, for example, optical imaging, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET). A single nanoparticle has the potential to incorporate myriads of contrast agent units or imaging tracers, encapsulate, and/or be conjugated to different combinations of imaging tags, thus providing the means for multimodality diagnostic methods. These arrangements have been shown to provide significant improvements to the signal-to-noise ratios that may be obtained by molecular imaging techniques, for example, in PET diagnostic imaging with nanomaterials versus the cases when molecular species are involved as radiotracers. We surveyed some of the main discoveries in the simultaneous incorporation of nanoparticulate materials and imaging agents within highly kinetically stable radio-nanomaterials as potential tracers with (pre)clinical potential. Diversity in function and new developments toward synthesis, radiolabeling, and microscopy investigations are explored, and preclinical applications in molecular imaging are highlighted. The emphasis is on the biocompatible materials at the forefront of the main preclinical developments, e.g., nanoceramics and liposome-based constructs, which have driven the evolution of diagnostic radio-nanomedicines over the past decade.

Magnetic resonance imaging focused on the ferritin heavy chain 1 reporter gene detects neuronal differentiation in stem cells

The neuronal differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells offers a new strategy for the treatment of neurological disorders. Thus, there is a need to identify a noninvasive and sensitive in vivo imaging approach for real-time monitoring of transplanted stem cells. Our previous study confirmed that magnetic resonance imaging, with a focus on the ferritin heavy chain 1 reporter gene, could track the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells that had been transduced with lentivirus carrying the ferritin heavy chain 1 reporter gene. However, we could not determine whether or when bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells had undergone neuronal differentiation based on changes in the magnetic resonance imaging signal. To solve this problem, we identified a neuron-specific enolase that can be differentially expressed before and after neuronal differentiation in stem cells. In this study, we successfully constructed a lentivirus carrying the neuron-specific enolase promoter and expressing the ferritin heavy chain 1 reporter gene; we used this lentivirus to transduce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Cellular and animal studies showed that the neuron-specific enolase promoter effectively drove the expression of ferritin heavy chain 1 after neuronal differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; this led to intracellular accumulation of iron and corresponding changes in the magnetic resonance imaging signal. In summary, we established an innovative magnetic resonance imaging approach focused on the induction of reporter gene expression by a neuron-specific promoter. This imaging method can be used to noninvasively and sensitively detect neuronal differentiation in stem cells, which may be useful in stem cell-based therapies.

Intracellular fluorogenic supramolecular assemblies for self-reporting bioorthogonal prodrug activation

A visual drug delivery system (DDS) is urgently needed for precision medicine. DDS-mediated bioorthogonal prodrug activation strategies have demonstrated remarkable advantages in enlarging a therapeutic index via the alleviation of adverse drug reactions. However, the events of bioorthogonal prodrug activation remain inaccessible. Here, we construct a self-reporting bioorthogonal prodrug activation system using fluorescence emission to interpret prodrug activation events. In designed reactive oxygen species (ROS)-instructed supramolecular assemblies, the bioorthogonal reaction handle of tetrazine carries a dual role as fluorescence quencher and prodrug activator. The subsequent inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction simultaneously liberates fluorescence and active drugs, which form a linear relationship. Differentiated by their cellular redox status, ROS-instructed supramolecular assemblies form selectively in both tumor cells and cell spheroids. Upon prodrug treatment, the brightness of fluorescence reflects the liberation of active drugs, which further correlates with the cell survival rate. Therefore, a fluorescence-based visualizable DDS (VDDS) for bioorthogonal prodrug activation is demonstrated, which should be useful to elucidate the multi-step processes in drug delivery and determine prodrug activation efficacy.

Prodigious therapeutic effects of combining mesenchymal stem cells with magnetic nanoparticles

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained wide-ranging reputation in the medical research community due to their promising regenerative abilities. MSCs can be isolated from various resources mostly bone marrow, Adipose tissues and Umbilical cord. Huge advances have been achieved in comprehending the possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic functions of MSCs. Despite the proven role of MSCs in repairing and healing of many disease modalities, many hurdles hinder the transferring of these cells in the clinical settings. Among the most reported problems encountering MSCs therapy in vivo are loss of tracking signal post-transplantation, insufficient migration, homing and engraftment post-infusion, and undesirable differentiation at the site of injury. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been used widely for various biomedical applications. MNPs have a metallic core stabilized by an outer coating material and their magnetic properties can be modulated by an external magnetic field. These magnetic properties of MNPs were found to enhance the quality of diagnostic imaging procedures and can be used to create a carrying system for targeted delivery of therapeutic substances mainly drug, genes and stem cells. Several studies highlighted the advantageous outcomes of combining MSCs with MNPs in potentiating their tracking, monitoring, homing, engraftment and differentiation. In this review, we will discuss the role of MNPs in promoting the therapeutic profile of MSCs which may improve the success rate of MSCs transplantation and solve many challenges that delay their clinical applicability.

Micro/Nanosystems for Magnetic Targeted Delivery of Bioagents

Targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals is promising for efficient disease treatment and reduction in adverse effects. Nano or microstructured magnetic materials with strong magnetic momentum can be noninvasively controlled via magnetic forces within living beings. These magnetic carriers open perspectives in controlling the delivery of different types of bioagents in humans, including small molecules, nucleic acids, and cells. In the present review, we describe different types of magnetic carriers that can serve as drug delivery platforms, and we show different ways to apply them to magnetic targeted delivery of bioagents. We discuss the magnetic guidance of nano/microsystems or labeled cells upon injection into the systemic circulation or in the tissue; we then highlight emergent applications in tissue engineering, and finally, we show how magnetic targeting can integrate with imaging technologies that serve to assist drug delivery.

Direct Cell Radiolabeling for in Vivo Cell Tracking with PET and SPECT Imaging

The arrival of cell-based therapies is a revolution in medicine. However, its safe clinical application in a rational manner depends on reliable, clinically applicable methods for determining the fate and trafficking of therapeutic cells in vivo using medical imaging techniques─known as in vivo cell tracking. Radionuclide imaging using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) has several advantages over other imaging modalities for cell tracking because of its high sensitivity (requiring low amounts of probe per cell for imaging) and whole-body quantitative imaging capability using clinically available scanners. For cell tracking with radionuclides, ex vivo direct cell radiolabeling, that is, radiolabeling cells before their administration, is the simplest and most robust method, allowing labeling of any cell type without the need for genetic modification. This Review covers the development and application of direct cell radiolabeling probes utilizing a variety of chemical approaches: organic and inorganic/coordination (radio)chemistry, nanomaterials, and biochemistry. We describe the key early developments and the most recent advances in the field, identifying advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches and informing future development and choice of methods for clinical and preclinical application.

Multimodal Magnetic Resonance and Fluorescence Imaging of the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Transplantation in the Brain

Abstract

The understanding of the engrafted cell behaviors such as the survival, growth and distribution is the prerequisite to optimize cell therapy, and a multimodal imaging at both anatomical and molecular levels is designed to achieve this goal. We constructed a lentiviral vector carrying genes of ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (egfp), and established the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) culture stably expressing these three reporter genes. These iPSCs showed green and near-infrared fluorescence as well as the iron uptake capacity in vitro. After transplanted the labeled iPSCs into the rat brain, the engrafted cells could be in vivo imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared fluorescent imaging (NIF) up to 60 days at the anatomical level. Moreover, these cells could be detected using EGFP immunostaining and Prussian blue stain at the cellular level. The developed approach provides a novel tool to study behaviors of the transplanted cells in a multimodal way, which will be valuable for the effectiveness and safety evaluation of cell therapy.

Recent Development in Metallic Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis

Metal-based nanoparticles are very promising for their applications in cancer diagnosis, drug delivery and therapy. Breast cancer is the major reason of death in woman especially in developed countries including EU and USA. Due to the heterogeneity of cancer cells, nanoparticles are effective as therapeutics and diagnostics. Anti-cancer therapy of breast tumors is challenging because of highly metastatic progression of the disease to brain, bone, lung, and liver. Magnetic nanoparticles are crucial for metastatic breast cancer detection and protection. This review comprehensively discusses the application of nanomaterials as breast cancer therapy, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

X-ray-Fluorescence Imaging for In Vivo Detection of Gold-Nanoparticle-Labeled Immune Cells: A GEANT4 Based Feasibility Study

The growing field of cellular therapies in regenerative medicine and oncology calls for more refined diagnostic tools that are able to investigate and monitor the function and success of said therapies. X-ray Fluorescence Imaging (XFI) can be applied for molecular imaging with nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs), which can be used in immune cell tracking. We present a Monte Carlo simulation study on the sensitivity of detection and associated radiation dose estimations in an idealized setup of XFI in human-sized objects. Our findings demonstrate the practicability of XFI in human-sized objects, as immune cell tracking with a minimum detection limit of 4.4 × 105 cells or 0.86 μg gold in a cubic volume of 1.78 mm3 can be achieved. Therefore, our results show that the current technological developments form a good basis for high sensitivity XFI.

Iron-Quercetin Complex Preconditioning of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Accelerates Angiogenic and Fibroblast Migration: Implications for Wound Healing

Cell-based therapy is a highly promising treatment paradigm in ischemic disease due to its ability to repair tissue when implanted into a damaged site. These therapeutic effects involve a strong paracrine component resulting from the high levels of bioactive molecules secreted in response to the local microenvironment. Therefore, the secreted therapeutic can be modulated by preconditioning the cells during in vitro culturing. Herein, we investigated the potential use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes, the "iron-quercetin complex" or IronQ, for preconditioning peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to expand proangiogenic cells and enhance their secreted therapeutic factors. PBMCs obtained from healthy donor blood were cultured in the presence of the iron-quercetin complex. Differentiated preconditioning PBMCs were characterized by immunostaining. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out to describe the secreted cytokines. In vitro migration and tubular formation using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were completed to investigate the proangiogenic efficacy. IronQ significantly increased mononuclear progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation into spindle-shape-like cells, expressing both hematopoietic and stromal cell markers. The expansion increased the number of colony-forming units (CFU-Hill). The conditioned medium obtained from IronQ-treated PBMCs contained high levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8), IL-10, urokinase-type-plasminogen-activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as augmented migration and capillary network formation of HUVECs and fibroblast cells, in vitro. Our study demonstrated that the IronQ-preconditioning PBMC protocol could enhance the angiogenic and reparative potential of non-mobilized PBMCs. This protocol might be used as an adjunctive strategy to improve the efficacy of cell therapy when using PBMCs for ischemic diseases and chronic wounds. However, in vivo assessment is required for further validation.

2D Gadolinium Oxide Nanoplates as T1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents

Millions of people a year receive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for the diagnosis of conditions as diverse as fatty liver disease and cancer. Gadolinium chelates, which provide preferred T₁ contrast, are the current standard but face an uncertain future due to increasing concerns about their nephrogenic toxicity as well as poor performance in high-field MRI scanners. Gadolinium-containing nanocrystals are interesting alternatives as they bypass the kidneys and can offer the possibility of both intracellular accumulation and active targeting. Nanocrystal contrast performance is notably limited, however, as their organic coatings block water from close interactions with surface Gadoliniums. Here, these steric barriers to water exchange are minimized through shape engineering of plate-like nanocrystals that possess accessible Gadoliniums at their edges. Sulfonated surface polymers promote second-sphere relaxation processes that contribute remarkable contrast even at the highest fields (r₁ = 32.6 × 10^-3 m Gd^-1 s^-1 at 9.4 T). These noncytotoxic materials release no detectable free Gadolinium even under mild acidic conditions. They preferentially accumulate in the liver of mice with a circulation half-life 50% longer than commercial agents. These features allow these T₁ MRI contrast agents to be applied for the first time to the ex vivo detection of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Nanotechnology and osteoarthritis; part 1: Clinical landscape and opportunities for advanced diagnostics

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of the entire joint, often triggered by cartilage injury, mediated by a cascade of inflammatory pathways involving a complex interplay among metabolic, genetic, and enzymatic factors that alter the biochemical composition, microstructure, and biomechanical performance. Clinically, OA is characterized by degradation of the articular cartilage, thickening of the subchondral bone, inflammation of the synovium, and degeneration of ligaments that in aggregate reduce joint function and diminish quality of life. OA is the most prevalent joint disease, affecting 140 million people worldwide; these numbers are only expected to increase, concomitant with societal and financial burden of care. We present a two-part review encompassing the applications of nanotechnology to the diagnosis and treatment of OA. Herein, part 1 focuses on OA treatment options and advancements in nanotechnology for the diagnosis of OA and imaging of articular cartilage, while part 2 (10.1002/jor.24842) summarizes recent advances in drug delivery, tissue scaffolds, and gene therapy for the treatment of OA. Specifically, part 1 begins with a concise review of the clinical landscape of OA, along with current diagnosis and treatments. We next review nanoparticle contrast agents for minimally invasive detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of OA via magnetic resonace imaging, computed tomography, and photoacoustic imaging techniques as well as for probes for cell tracking. We conclude by identifying opportunities for nanomedicine advances, and future prospects for imaging and diagnostics.

MRI and fluorescence studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae loaded with a bimodal Fe(III) T1 contrast agent

Labeling of cells with paramagnetic metal complexes produces changes in MRI properties that have applications in cell tracking and identification. Here we show that fungi, specifically the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can be loaded with Fe(III) T1 contrast agents. Two Fe(III) macrocyclic complexes based on 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, with two pendant alcohol groups are prepared and studied as T1 relaxation MRI probes. To better visualize uptake and localization in the yeast cells, Fe(III) complexes have a fluorescent tag, consisting of either carbostyril or fluoromethyl coumarin. The Fe(III) complexes are robust towards dissociation and produce moderate T1 effects, despite lacking inner-sphere water ligands. Fluorescence microscopy and MRI T1 relaxation studies provide evidence of uptake of an Fe(III) complex into Saccharomyces cerevisiae upon electroporation.

Update on imaging-based diagnosis of acute renal allograft rejection

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. Despite effective immunosuppressants, acute allograft rejections pose a major threat to graft survival. In early stages, acute rejections are still potentially reversible, and early detection is crucial to initiate the necessary treatment options and to prevent further graft dysfunction or even loss of the complete graft. Currently, invasive core needle biopsy is the reference standard to diagnose acute rejection. However, biopsies carry the risk of graft injuries and cannot be immediately performed on patients receiving anticoagulation drugs. Therefore, non-invasive assessment of the whole organ for specific and rapid detection of acute allograft rejection is desirable. We herein provide a review summarizing current imaging-based approaches for non-invasive diagnosis of acute renal allograft rejection.

SPIO labeling of endothelial cells using ultrasound and targeted microbubbles at diagnostic pressures

In vivo cell tracking of therapeutic, tumor, and endothelial cells is an emerging field and a promising technique for imaging cardiovascular disease and cancer development. Site-specific labeling of endothelial cells with the MRI contrast agent superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in the absence of toxic agents is challenging. Therefore, the aim of this in vitro study was to find optimal parameters for efficient and safe SPIO-labeling of endothelial cells using ultrasound-activated CD31-targeted microbubbles for future MRI tracking. Ultrasound at a frequency of 1 MHz (10,000 cycles, repetition rate of 20 Hz) was used for varying applied peak negative pressures (10–160 kPa, i.e. low mechanical index (MI) of 0.01–0.16), treatment durations (0–30 s), time of SPIO addition (-5 min– 15 min with respect to the start of the ultrasound), and incubation time after SPIO addition (5 min– 3 h). Iron specific Prussian Blue staining in combination with calcein-AM based cell viability assays were applied to define the most efficient and safe conditions for SPIO-labeling. Optimal SPIO labeling was observed when the ultrasound parameters were 40 kPa peak negative pressure (MI 0.04), applied for 30 s just before SPIO addition (0 min). Compared to the control, this resulted in an approximate 12 times increase of SPIO uptake in endothelial cells in vitro with 85% cell viability. Therefore, ultrasound-activated targeted ultrasound contrast agents show great potential for effective and safe labeling of endothelial cells with SPIO.

The Immunoimaging Toolbox

The recent clinical success of cancer immunotherapy has renewed interest in the development of tools to image the immune system. In general, immunotherapies attempt to enable the body's own immune cells to seek out and destroy malignant disease. Molecular imaging of the cells and molecules that regulate immunity could provide unique insight into the mechanisms of action, and failure, of immunotherapies. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art immunoimaging toolbox with a focus on imaging strategies and their applications toward immunotherapy.

Metallic Nanoparticles for Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy, or the utilization of the body's immune system to attack tumor cells, has gained prominence over the past few decades as a viable cancer treatment strategy. Recently approved immunotherapeutics have conferred remission upon patients with previously bleak outcomes and have expanded the number of tools available to treat cancer. Nanoparticles -including polymeric, liposomal, and metallic formulations - naturally traffic to the spleen and lymph organs and the relevant immune cells therein, making them good candidates for delivery of immunotherapeutic agents. Metallic nanoparticle formulations in particular are advantageous because of their potential for dense surface functionalization and their capability for optical or heat based therapeutic methods. Many research groups have investigated the potential of nanoparticle-mediated delivery platforms to improve the efficacy of immunotherapies. Despite the significant preclinical successes demonstrated by many of these platforms over the last twenty years, few metallic nanoparticles have successfully entered clinical trials with none achieving FDA approval for cancer therapy. In this review, we will discuss preclinical research and clinical trials involving metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) for cancer immunotherapy applications and discuss the potential for clinical translation of MNPs.

In Vitro Neural Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Carrying the FTH1 Reporter Gene and Detection with MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on the ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) reporter gene has been used to trace stem cells. However, whether FTH1 expression is affected by stem cell differentiation or whether cell differentiation is affected by reporter gene expression remains unclear. Here, we explore the relationship between FTH1 expression and neural differentiation in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) carrying FTH1 into neuron-like cells and investigate the feasibility of using FTH1 as an MRI reporter gene to detect neurally differentiated cells. By inducing cell differentiation with all-trans retinoic acid and a modified neuronal medium, MSCs and MSCs-FTH1 were successfully differentiated into neuron-like cells (Neurons and Neurons-FTH1), and the neural differentiation rates were (91.56±7.89)% and (92.23±7.64)%, respectively. Neuron-specific markers, including nestin, neuron-specific enolase, and microtubule-associated protein-2, were significantly expressed in Neurons-FTH1 and Neurons without noticeable differences. On the other hand, FTH1 was significantly expressed in MSCs-FTH1 and Neurons-FTH1 cells, and the expression levels were not significantly different. The R2 value was significantly increased in MSCs-FTH1 and Neurons-FTH1 cells, which was consistent with the findings of Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy, and intracellular iron measurements. These results suggest that FTH1 gene expression did not affect MSC differentiation into neurons and was not affected by neural differentiation. Thus, MRI reporter gene imaging based on FTH1 can be used for the detection of neurally differentiated cells from MSCs.

Nanomaterials in Neural-Stem-Cell-Mediated Regenerative Medicine: Imaging and Treatment of Neurological Diseases

Patients are increasingly being diagnosed with neuropathic diseases, but are rarely cured because of the loss of neurons in damaged tissues. This situation creates an urgent clinical need to develop alternative treatment strategies for effective repair and regeneration of injured or diseased tissues. Neural stem cells (NSCs), highly pluripotent cells with the ability of self-renewal and potential for multidirectional differentiation, provide a promising solution to meet this demand. However, some serious challenges remaining to be addressed are the regulation of implanted NSCs, tracking their fate, monitoring their interaction with and responsiveness to the tissue environment, and evaluating their treatment efficacy. Nanomaterials have been envisioned as innovative components to further empower the field of NSC-based regenerative medicine, because their unique physicochemical characteristics provide unparalleled solutions to the imaging and treatment of diseases. By building on the advantages of nanomaterials, tremendous efforts have been devoted to facilitate research into the clinical translation of NSC-based therapy. Here, recent work on emerging nanomaterials is highlighted and their performance in the imaging and treatment of neurological diseases is evaluated, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of various imaging modalities currently used. The underlying mechanisms of therapeutic efficacy are discussed, and future research directions are suggested.

Stem Cell Tracing Through MR Molecular Imaging

Stem cell therapy opens a new window in medicine to overcome several diseases that remain incurable. It appears such diseases as cardiovascular disorders, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, urinary system diseases, cartilage lesions and diabetes are curable with stem cell transplantation. However, some questions related to stem cell therapy have remained unanswered. Stem cell imaging allows approval of appropriated strategies such as selection of the type and dose of stem cell, and also mode of cell delivery before being tested in clinical trials. MRI as a non-invasive imaging modality provides proper conditions for this aim. So far, different contrast agents such as superparamagnetic or paramagnetic nanoparticles, ultrasmall superparamagnetic nanoparticles, fluorine, gadolinium and some types of reporter genes have been used for imaging of stem cells. The core subject of these studies is to investigate the survival and differentiation of stem cells, contrast agent's toxicity and long term following of transplanted cells. The promising results of in vivo and some clinical trial studies may raise hope for clinical stem cells imaging with MRI.

Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by demyelination and neuronal loss that is induced by attack of autoreactive T cells to the myelin sheath and endogenous remyelination failure, eventually leading to functional neurological disability. Although recent evidence suggests that MS relapses are induced by environmental and exogenous triggers such as viral infections in a genetic background, its very complex pathogenesis is not completely understood. Therefore, the efficiency of current immunosuppression-based therapies of MS is too low, and emerging disease-modifying immunomodulatory agents such as fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate cannot stop progressive neurodegenerative process. Thus, the cell replacement therapy approach that aims to overcome neuronal cell loss and remyelination failure and to increase endogenous myelin repair capacity is considered as an alternative treatment option. A wide variety of preclinical studies, using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of MS, have recently shown that grafted cells with different origins including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neural precursor and stem cells, and induced-pluripotent stem cells have the ability to repair CNS lesions and to recover functional neurological deficits. The results of ongoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy studies, with the advantage of peripheral administration to the patients, have suggested that cell replacement therapy is also a feasible option for immunomodulatory treatment of MS. In this chapter, we overview cell sources and applications of the stem cell therapy for treatment of MS. We also discuss challenges including those associated with administration route, immune responses to grafted cells, integration of these cells to existing neural circuits, and risk of tumor growth. Finally, future prospects of stem cell therapy for MS are addressed.

Direct Cell Labeling to Image Transplanted Stem Cells in Real Time Using a Dual-Contrast MRI Technique

Exogenous direct cell labeling with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) is currently the most employed cell-labeling technique for tracking transplanted cells using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although SPION-based cell labeling is effective for monitoring cell delivery and migration, monitoring cell survival is still a challenge. This unit describes an MRI technique that permits detection of the delivery, migration, and death of transplanted cells. This dual-contrast technique involves labeling cells with two different classes of MRI contrast agents, possessing different diffusion coefficients: SPIONs (T₂ /T₂^* contrast agents, with lower diffusion coefficients) and gadolinium chelates (T₁ contrast agents, with higher diffusion coefficients). In live cells, where both agents are in close proximity, the T₂ /T₂^* contrast predominates and the T₁ contrast is quenched. In dead cells, where the cell membrane is breached, gadolinium chelates diffuse from the SPIONs and generate a signature T₁ contrast enhancement in the vicinity of dead cells. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.