Summary
Published in Biomaterials (2015), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Egawa, Edgar Y., et al. A DNA hybridization system for labeling of neural stem cells with SPIO nanoparticles for MRI monitoring post-transplantation
A DNA hybridization system for labeling of neural stem cells with SPIO nanoparticles for MRI monitoring post-transplantation
Research Overview
Neural stem cells show promise for treating neurodegenerative disorders and central nervous system injury, but knowing whether a graft survives, migrates, and integrates requires monitoring it over the course of therapy.
Magnetic resonance imaging can follow transplanted cells non-invasively provided they carry a suitable contrast agent, and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are among the most commonly used labels for this purpose. This study addressed the labeling problem with a DNA hybridization system for attaching contrast agents to transplanted neural stem cells.
Key Discoveries
- DNA hybridization system developed for labeling neural stem cells with MRI contrast agents
- Enables non-invasive tracking of graft survival and migration after transplantation
- Built on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, the standard cell-tracking label
