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Nguyen HTM, Das N, Ricks M, Zhong X, Takematsu E, Wang Y, Ruvalcaba C, Mehadji B, Roncali E, Chan CKF, Pratx G. Ultrasensitive and multiplexed tracking of single cells using whole-body PET/CT. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk5747. [PMID: 38875333 PMCID: PMC11177933 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk5747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
In vivo molecular imaging tools are crucially important for elucidating how cells move through complex biological systems; however, achieving single-cell sensitivity over the entire body remains challenging. Here, we report a highly sensitive and multiplexed approach for tracking upward of 20 single cells simultaneously in the same subject using positron emission tomography (PET). The method relies on a statistical tracking algorithm (PEPT-EM) to achieve a sensitivity of 4 becquerel per cell and a streamlined workflow to reliably label single cells with over 50 becquerel per cell of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). To demonstrate the potential of the method, we tracked the fate of more than 70 melanoma cells after intracardiac injection and found they primarily arrested in the small capillaries of the pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and digestive organ systems. This study bolsters the evolving potential of PET in offering unmatched insights into the earliest phases of cell trafficking in physiological and pathological processes and in cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieu T. M. Nguyen
- School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Neeladrisingha Das
- School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Matthew Ricks
- School of Medicine, Department of Radiological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xiaoxu Zhong
- School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eri Takematsu
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yuting Wang
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Carlos Ruvalcaba
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Brahim Mehadji
- Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Emilie Roncali
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Charles K. F. Chan
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Guillem Pratx
- School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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2
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Sevenler D, Toner M. High throughput intracellular delivery by viscoelastic mechanoporation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:115. [PMID: 38167490 PMCID: PMC10762167 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44447-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Brief pulses of electric field (electroporation) and/or tensile stress (mechanoporation) have been used to reversibly permeabilize the plasma membrane of mammalian cells and deliver materials to the cytosol. However, electroporation can be harmful to cells, while efficient mechanoporation strategies have not been scalable due to the use of narrow constrictions or needles which are susceptible to clogging. Here we report a high throughput approach to mechanoporation in which the plasma membrane is stretched and reversibly permeabilized by viscoelastic fluid forces within a microfluidic chip without surface contact. Biomolecules are delivered directly to the cytosol within seconds at a throughput exceeding 250 million cells per minute. Viscoelastic mechanoporation is compatible with a variety of biomolecules including proteins, RNA, and CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes, as well as a range of cell types including HEK293T cells and primary T cells. Altogether, viscoelastic mechanoporation appears feasible for contact-free permeabilization and delivery of biomolecules to mammalian cells ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derin Sevenler
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Mehmet Toner
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Shriners Children's, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
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3
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Nguyen HT, Das N, Wang Y, Ruvalcaba C, Mehadji B, Roncali E, Chan CK, Pratx G. Efficient and multiplexed tracking of single cells using whole-body PET/CT. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.23.554536. [PMID: 37662335 PMCID: PMC10473747 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.23.554536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
In vivo molecular imaging tools are crucially important for elucidating how cells move through complex biological systems, however, achieving single-cell sensitivity over the entire body remains challenging. Here, we report a highly sensitive and multiplexed approach for tracking upwards of 20 single cells simultaneously in the same subject using positron emission tomography (PET). The method relies on a new tracking algorithm (PEPT-EM) to push the cellular detection threshold to below 4 Bq/cell, and a streamlined workflow to reliably label single cells with over 50 Bq/cell of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). To demonstrate the potential of method, we tracked the fate of over 70 melanoma cells after intracardiac injection and found they primarily arrested in the small capillaries of the pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and digestive organ systems. This study bolsters the evolving potential of PET in offering unmatched insights into the earliest phases of cell trafficking in physiological and pathological processes and in cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieu T.M. Nguyen
- Stanford University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics
| | - Neeladrisingha Das
- Stanford University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics
| | - Yuting Wang
- Stanford University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery
| | - Carlos Ruvalcaba
- University of California, Davis, Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | - Brahim Mehadji
- University of California, Davis, Department of Radiology
| | - Emilie Roncali
- University of California, Davis, Department of Biomedical Engineering
- University of California, Davis, Department of Radiology
| | | | - Guillem Pratx
- Stanford University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics
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Fink C, Gevaert JJ, Barrett JW, Dikeakos JD, Foster PJ, Dekaban GA. In vivo tracking of adenoviral-transduced iron oxide-labeled bone marrow-derived dendritic cells using magnetic particle imaging. Eur Radiol Exp 2023; 7:42. [PMID: 37580614 PMCID: PMC10425309 DOI: 10.1186/s41747-023-00359-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite widespread study of dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer immunotherapies, the in vivo postinjection fate of DC remains largely unknown. Due in part to a lack of quantifiable imaging modalities, this is troubling as the amount of DC migration to secondary lymphoid organs correlates with therapeutic efficacy. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) has emerged as a suitable modality to quantify in vivo migration of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled DC. Herein, we describe a popliteal lymph node (pLN)-focused MPI scan to quantify DC in vivo migration accurately and consistently. METHODS Adenovirus (Ad)-transduced SPIO+ (Ad SPIO+) and SPIO+ C57BL/6 bone marrow-derived DC were generated and assessed for viability and phenotype, then fluorescently labeled and injected into mouse hind footpads (n = 6). Two days later, in vivo DC migration was quantified using whole animal, pLN-focused, and ex vivo pLN MPI scans. RESULTS No significant differences in viability, phenotype and in vivo pLN migration were noted for Ad SPIO+ and SPIO+ DC. Day 2 pLN-focused MPI quantified DC migration in all instances while whole animal MPI only quantified pLN migration in 75% of cases. Ex vivo MPI and fluorescence microscopy confirmed that pLN MPI signal was due to originally injected Ad SPIO+ and SPIO+ DC. CONCLUSION We overcame a reported limitation of MPI by using a pLN-focused MPI scan to quantify pLN-migrated Ad SPIO+ and SPIO+ DC in 100% of cases and detected as few as 1000 DC (4.4 ng Fe) in vivo. MPI is a suitable preclinical imaging modality to assess DC-based cancer immunotherapeutic efficacy. RELEVANCE STATEMENT Tracking the in vivo fate of DC using noninvasive quantifiable magnetic particle imaging can potentially serve as a surrogate marker of therapeutic effectiveness. KEY POINTS • Adenoviral-transduced and iron oxide-labeled dendritic cells are in vivo migration competent. • Magnetic particle imaging is a suitable modality to quantify in vivo dendritic cell migration. • Magnetic particle imaging focused field of view overcomes dynamic range limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corby Fink
- Biotherapeutics Research Laboratory, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Julia J Gevaert
- Cellular and Molecular Imaging Group, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - John W Barrett
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jimmy D Dikeakos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Paula J Foster
- Cellular and Molecular Imaging Group, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Gregory A Dekaban
- Biotherapeutics Research Laboratory, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
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Zheng J, Jiang X, Li Y, Gao J. Inorganic nanoparticle-integrated mesenchymal stem cells: A potential biological agent for multifaceted applications. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e313. [PMID: 37533768 PMCID: PMC10390757 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies are flourishing. MSCs could be used as potential therapeutic agents for regenerative medicine due to their own repair function. Meanwhile, the natural predisposition toward inflammation or injury sites makes them promising carriers for targeted drug delivery. Inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) are greatly favored for their unique properties and potential applications in biomedical fields. Current research has integrated INPs with MSCs to enhance their regenerative or antitumor functions. This model also allows the in vivo fate tracking of MSCs in multiple imaging modalities, as many INPs are also excellent contrast agents. Thus, INP-integrated MSCs would be a multifunctional biologic agent with great potential. In this review, the current roles performed by the integration of INPs with MSCs, including (i) enhancing their repair and regeneration capacity via the improvement of migration, survival, paracrine, or differentiation properties, (ii) empowering tumor-killing ability through agent loaded or hyperthermia, and (iii) conferring traceability are summarized. An introduction of INP-integrated MSCs for simultaneous treatment and tracking is also included. The promising applications of INP-integrated MSCs in future treatments are emphasized and the challenges to their clinical translation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan‐Juan Zheng
- Institute of PharmaceuticsCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xin‐Chi Jiang
- Institute of PharmaceuticsCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yao‐Sheng Li
- Institute of PharmaceuticsCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jian‐Qing Gao
- Institute of PharmaceuticsCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative MedicineCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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6
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Wu W, Chang E, Jin L, Liu S, Huang CH, Kamal R, Liang T, Aissaoui NM, Theruvath AJ, Pisani L, Moseley M, Stoyanova T, Paulmurugan R, Huang J, Mitchell DA, Daldrup-Link HE. Multimodal In Vivo Tracking of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells in Preclinical Glioblastoma Models. Invest Radiol 2023; 58:388-395. [PMID: 36729074 PMCID: PMC10164035 DOI: 10.1097/rli.0000000000000946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Iron oxide nanoparticles have been used to track the accumulation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the only nanoparticle available for clinical applications to date, ferumoxytol, has caused rare but severe anaphylactic reactions. MegaPro nanoparticles (MegaPro-NPs) provide an improved safety profile. We evaluated whether MegaPro-NPs can be applied for in vivo tracking of CAR T cells in a mouse model of glioblastoma multiforme. MATERIALS AND METHODS We labeled tumor-targeted CD70CAR (8R-70CAR) T cells and non-tumor-targeted controls with MegaPro-NPs, followed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, Prussian blue staining, and cell viability assays. Next, we treated 42 NRG mice bearing U87-MG/eGFP-fLuc glioblastoma multiforme xenografts with MegaPro-NP-labeled/unlabeled CAR T cells or labeled untargeted T cells and performed serial MRI, magnetic particle imaging, and histology studies. The Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted to evaluate overall group differences, and the Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the pairs of groups. RESULTS MegaPro-NP-labeled CAR T cells demonstrated significantly increased iron uptake compared with unlabeled controls ( P < 0.01). Cell viability, activation, and exhaustion markers were not significantly different between the 2 groups ( P > 0.05). In vivo, tumor T2* relaxation times were significantly lower after treatment with MegaPro-NP-labeled CAR T cells compared with untargeted T cells ( P < 0.01). There is no significant difference in tumor growth inhibition between mice injected with labeled and unlabeled CAR T cells. CONCLUSIONS MegaPro-NPs can be used for in vivo tracking of CAR T cells. Because MegaPro-NPs recently completed phase II clinical trial investigation as an MRI contrast agent, MegaPro-NP is expected to be applied to track CAR T cells in cancer immunotherapy trials in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wu
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
- Institute of Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Edwin Chang
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Linchun Jin
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Shiqin Liu
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ching-Hsin Huang
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Rozy Kamal
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Tie Liang
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Nour Mary Aissaoui
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Ashok J. Theruvath
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Laura Pisani
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Michael Moseley
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Tanya Stoyanova
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ramasamy Paulmurugan
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Jianping Huang
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Duane A. Mitchell
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Heike E. Daldrup-Link
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Room G2045, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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7
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Suryadevara V, Hajipour MJ, Adams LC, Aissaoui NM, Rashidi A, Kiru L, Theruvath AJ, Huang C, Maruyama M, Tsubosaka M, Lyons JK, Wu W(E, Roudi R, Goodman SB, Daldrup‐Link HE. MegaPro, a clinically translatable nanoparticle for in vivo tracking of stem cell implants in pig cartilage defects. Theranostics 2023; 13:2710-2720. [PMID: 37215574 PMCID: PMC10196837 DOI: 10.7150/thno.82620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Efficient labeling methods for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are crucial for tracking and understanding their behavior in regenerative medicine applications, particularly in cartilage defects. MegaPro nanoparticles have emerged as a potential alternative to ferumoxytol nanoparticles for this purpose. Methods: In this study, we employed mechanoporation to develop an efficient labeling method for MSCs using MegaPro nanoparticles and compared their effectiveness with ferumoxytol nanoparticles in tracking MSCs and chondrogenic pellets. Pig MSCs were labeled with both nanoparticles using a custom-made microfluidic device, and their characteristics were analyzed using various imaging and spectroscopy techniques. The viability and differentiation capacity of labeled MSCs were also assessed. Labeled MSCs and chondrogenic pellets were implanted into pig knee joints and monitored using MRI and histological analysis. Results: MegaPro-labeled MSCs demonstrated shorter T2 relaxation times, higher iron content, and greater nanoparticle uptake compared to ferumoxytol-labeled MSCs, without significantly affecting their viability and differentiation capacity. Post-implantation, MegaPro-labeled MSCs and chondrogenic pellets displayed a strong hypointense signal on MRI with considerably shorter T2* relaxation times compared to adjacent cartilage. The hypointense signal of both MegaPro- and ferumoxytol-labeled chondrogenic pellets decreased over time. Histological evaluations showed regenerated defect areas and proteoglycan formation with no significant differences between the labeled groups. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that mechanoporation with MegaPro nanoparticles enables efficient MSC labeling without affecting viability or differentiation. MegaPro-labeled cells show enhanced MRI tracking compared to ferumoxytol-labeled cells, emphasizing their potential in clinical stem cell therapies for cartilage defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidyani Suryadevara
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mohammad Javad Hajipour
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lisa C. Adams
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nour Mary Aissaoui
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ali Rashidi
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Louise Kiru
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ashok J. Theruvath
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ching‐Hsin Huang
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Masahiro Maruyama
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Masanori Tsubosaka
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer K. Lyons
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wei (Emma) Wu
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Raheleh Roudi
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stuart B. Goodman
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Heike E. Daldrup‐Link
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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8
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Sevenler D, Toner M. High throughput intracellular delivery by viscoelastic mechanoporation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.24.538131. [PMID: 37163007 PMCID: PMC10168280 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.24.538131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Brief and intense electric fields (electroporation) and/or tensile stresses (mechanoporation) have been used to temporarily permeabilize the plasma membrane of mammalian cells for the purpose of delivering materials to the cytosol. However, electroporation can be harmful to cells, while efficient mechanoporation strategies have not been scalable due to the use of narrow constrictions or needles which are susceptible to clogging. Here we report a method of mechanoporation in which cells were stretched and permeabilized by viscoelastic flow forces without surface contact. Inertio-elastic cell focusing aligned cells to the center of the device, avoiding direct contact with walls and enabling efficient (95%) intracellular delivery to over 200 million cells per minute. Functional biomolecules such as proteins, RNA, and ribonucleoprotein complexes were successfully delivered to Jurkat cells. Efficient intracellular delivery to HEK293T cells and primary activated T cells was also demonstrated. Contact-free mechanoporation using viscoelastic fluid forces appears to be feasible method for efficient and high throughput intracellular delivery of biomolecules to mammalian cells ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derin Sevenler
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mehmet Toner
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Jung KO, Theruvath AJ, Nejadnik H, Liu A, Xing L, Sulchek T, Daldrup-Link HE, Pratx G. Mechanoporation enables rapid and efficient radiolabeling of stem cells for PET imaging. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2955. [PMID: 35194089 PMCID: PMC8863797 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06938-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Regenerative medicine uses the patient own stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues. Molecular imaging techniques are commonly used to image the transplanted cells, either right after surgery or at a later time. However, few techniques are fast or straightforward enough to label cells intraoperatively. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were harvested from knee joints of minipigs. The cells were labeled with PET contrast agent by flowing mechanoporation using a microfluidic device. While flowing through a series of microchannels, cells are compressed repeatedly by micro-ridges, which open transient pores in their membranes and induce convective transport, intended to facilitate the transport of 68Ga-labeled and lipid-coated mesoporous nanoparticles (MSNs) into the cells. This process enables cells to be labeled in a matter of seconds. Cells labeled with this approach were then implanted into cartilage defects, and the implant was imaged using positron emission tomography (PET) post-surgery. The microfluidic device can efficiently label millions of cells with 68Ga-labeled MSNs in as little as 15 min. The method achieved labeling efficiency greater than 5 Bq/cell on average, comparable to 30 min-long passive co-incubation with 68Ga-MSNs, but with improved biocompatibility due to the reduced exposure to ionizing radiation. Labeling time could also be accelerated by increasing throughput through more parallel channels. Finally, as a proof of concept, ADSCs were labeled with 68Ga-MSNs and quantitatively assessed using clinical PET/MR in a mock transplant operation in pig knee joints. MSN-assisted mechanoporation is a rapid, effective and straightforward approach to label cells with 68Ga. Given its high efficiency, this labeling method can be used to track small cells populations without significant effects on viability. The system is applicable to a variety of cell tracking studies for cancer therapy, regenerative therapy, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Oh Jung
- Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Ashok Joseph Theruvath
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Hossein Nejadnik
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Anna Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Lei Xing
- Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Todd Sulchek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Heike E Daldrup-Link
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Guillem Pratx
- Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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10
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Kiru L, Zlitni A, Tousley AM, Dalton GN, Wu W, Lafortune F, Liu A, Cunanan KM, Nejadnik H, Sulchek T, Moseley ME, Majzner RG, Daldrup-Link HE. In vivo imaging of nanoparticle-labeled CAR T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2102363119. [PMID: 35101971 PMCID: PMC8832996 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102363119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic osteosarcoma has a poor prognosis with a 2-y, event-free survival rate of ∼15 to 20%, highlighting the need for the advancement of efficacious therapeutics. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a potent strategy for eliminating tumors by harnessing the immune system. However, clinical trials with CAR T cells in solid tumors have encountered significant challenges and have not yet demonstrated convincing evidence of efficacy for a large number of patients. A major bottleneck for the success of CAR T-cell therapy is our inability to monitor the accumulation of the CAR T cells in the tumor with clinical-imaging techniques. To address this, we developed a clinically translatable approach for labeling CAR T cells with iron oxide nanoparticles, which enabled the noninvasive detection of the iron-labeled T cells with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), photoacoustic imaging (PAT), and magnetic particle imaging (MPI). Using a custom-made microfluidics device for T-cell labeling by mechanoporation, we achieved significant nanoparticle uptake in the CAR T cells, while preserving T-cell proliferation, viability, and function. Multimodal MRI, PAT, and MPI demonstrated homing of the T cells to osteosarcomas and off-target sites in animals administered with T cells labeled with the iron oxide nanoparticles, while T cells were not visualized in animals infused with unlabeled cells. This study details the successful labeling of CAR T cells with ferumoxytol, thereby paving the way for monitoring CAR T cells in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Kiru
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Aimen Zlitni
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | | | | | - Wei Wu
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Famyrah Lafortune
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Anna Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - Kristen May Cunanan
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Hossein Nejadnik
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Todd Sulchek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - Michael Eugene Moseley
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Robbie G Majzner
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Heike Elisabeth Daldrup-Link
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305;
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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11
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Chakrabarty P, Gupta P, Illath K, Kar S, Nagai M, Tseng FG, Santra TS. Microfluidic mechanoporation for cellular delivery and analysis. Mater Today Bio 2022; 13:100193. [PMID: 35005598 PMCID: PMC8718663 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly efficient intracellular delivery strategies are essential for developing therapeutic, diagnostic, biological, and various biomedical applications. The recent advancement of micro/nanotechnology has focused numerous researches towards developing microfluidic device-based strategies due to the associated high throughput delivery, cost-effectiveness, robustness, and biocompatible nature. The delivery strategies can be carrier-mediated or membrane disruption-based, where membrane disruption methods find popularity due to reduced toxicity, enhanced delivery efficiency, and cell viability. Among all of the membrane disruption techniques, the mechanoporation strategies are advantageous because of no external energy source required for membrane deformation, thereby achieving high delivery efficiencies and increased cell viability into different cell types with negligible toxicity. The past two decades have consequently seen a tremendous boost in mechanoporation-based research for intracellular delivery and cellular analysis. This article provides a brief review of the most recent developments on microfluidic-based mechanoporation strategies such as microinjection, nanoneedle arrays, cell-squeezing, and hydroporation techniques with their working principle, device fabrication, cellular delivery, and analysis. Moreover, a brief discussion of the different mechanoporation strategies integrated with other delivery methods has also been provided. Finally, the advantages, limitations, and future prospects of this technique are discussed compared to other intracellular delivery techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pulasta Chakrabarty
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Pallavi Gupta
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Kavitha Illath
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Srabani Kar
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB30FA, UK
| | - Moeto Nagai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Aichi, Japan
| | - Fan-Gang Tseng
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Tuhin Subhra Santra
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
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12
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Microfluidic transfection of mRNA into human primary lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using ultra-fast physical deformations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21407. [PMID: 34725429 PMCID: PMC8560772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00893-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery provides gene therapy with the potential to achieve transient therapeutic efficacy without risk of insertional mutagenesis. Amongst other applications, mRNA can be employed as a platform to deliver gene editing molecules, to achieve protein expression as an alternative to enzyme replacement therapies, and to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on immune cells for the treatment of cancer. We designed a novel microfluidic device that allows for efficient mRNA delivery via volume exchange for convective transfection (VECT). In the device, cells flow through a ridged channel that enforces a series of ultra-fast and large intensity deformations able to transiently open pores and induce convective transport of mRNA into the cell. Here, we describe efficient delivery of mRNA into T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), three human primary cell types widely used for ex vivo gene therapy applications. Results demonstrate that the device can operate at a wide range of cell and payload concentrations and that ultra-fast compressions do not have a negative impact on T cell function, making this a novel and competitive platform for the development of ex vivo mRNA-based gene therapies and other cell products engineered with mRNA.
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13
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Mundy DC, Goldberg JL. Nanoparticles as Cell Tracking Agents in Human Ocular Cell Transplantation Therapy. CURRENT OPHTHALMOLOGY REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40135-021-00275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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14
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Rapid Magneto-Sonoporation of Adipose-Derived Cells. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14174877. [PMID: 34500968 PMCID: PMC8432646 DOI: 10.3390/ma14174877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
By permeabilizing the cell membrane with ultrasound and facilitating the uptake of iron oxide nanoparticles, the magneto-sonoporation (MSP) technique can be used to instantaneously label transplantable cells (like stem cells) to be visualized via magnetic resonance imaging in vivo. However, the effects of MSP on cells are still largely unexplored. Here, we applied MSP to the widely applicable adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) for the first time and investigated its effects on the biology of those cells. Upon optimization, MSP allowed us to achieve a consistent nanoparticle uptake (in the range of 10 pg/cell) and a complete membrane resealing in few minutes. Surprisingly, this treatment altered the metabolic activity of cells and induced their differentiation towards an osteoblastic profile, as demonstrated by an increased expression of osteogenic genes and morphological changes. Histological evidence of osteogenic tissue development was collected also in 3D hydrogel constructs. These results point to a novel role of MSP in remote biophysical stimulation of cells with focus application in bone tissue repair.
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15
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Ma YS, Xin R, Yang XL, Shi Y, Zhang DD, Wang HM, Wang PY, Liu JB, Chu KJ, Fu D. Paving the way for small-molecule drug discovery. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:853-870. [PMID: 33841626 PMCID: PMC8014367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Small-molecule drugs are organic compounds affecting molecular pathways by targeting important proteins, which have a low molecular weight, making them penetrate cells easily. Small-molecule drugs can be developed from leads derived from rational drug design or isolated from natural resources. As commonly used medications, small-molecule drugs can be taken orally, which enter cells to act on intracellular targets. These characteristics make small-molecule drugs promising candidates for drug development, and they are increasingly favored in the pharmaceutical market. Despite the advancements in molecular genetics and effective new processes in drug development, the drugs currently used in clinical practice are inadequate due to their poor efficacy or severe side effects. Therefore, developing new safe and efficient drugs is a top priority for disease control and curing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shui Ma
- National Engineering Laboratory for Deep Process of Rice and Byproducts, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and TechnologyChangsha 410004, Hunan, China
- Cancer Institute, Nantong Tumor HospitalNantong 226631, China
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai 200072, China
| | - Rui Xin
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai 200072, China
| | - Xiao-Li Yang
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai 200072, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Cancer Institute, Nantong Tumor HospitalNantong 226631, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai 200072, China
| | - Hui-Min Wang
- Cancer Institute, Nantong Tumor HospitalNantong 226631, China
| | - Pei-Yao Wang
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai 200072, China
| | - Ji-Bin Liu
- Cancer Institute, Nantong Tumor HospitalNantong 226631, China
| | - Kai-Jian Chu
- Department of Biliary Tract Surgery I, Third Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical UniversityShanghai 200438, China
| | - Da Fu
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai 200072, China
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