Hyperthermia treatment of tumors by mesenchymal stem cell-delivered superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Magnetic hyperthermia - a potential cancer treatment in which superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are made to resonantly respond to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and thereby produce heat - is of significant current interest. We have previously shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be labeled with SPIONs with no effect on cell proliferation or survival and that within an hour of systemic administration, they migrate to and integrate into tumors in vivo. Here, we report on some longer term (up to 3 weeks) post-integration characteristics of magnetically labeled human MSCs in an immunocompromized mouse model.

Planar images reprojected from SPECT V/Q data perform similarly to traditional planar V/Q scans in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic interpretation of traditional ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) planar images with that of planar-like images reprojected from single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) data sets.

Methods: Retrospective data from patients who had undergone both planar and SPECT imaging were used to generate anonymized reprojected planar images, which were compared with traditional planar V/Q images. Two consultants interpreted both sets of images for 81 patients following a proforma.

Lipid peptide nanocomplexes for gene delivery and magnetic resonance imaging in the brain.

Gadolinium-labelled nanocomplexes offer prospects for the development of real-time, non-invasive imaging strategies to visualise the location of gene delivery by MRI. In this study, targeted nanoparticle formulations were prepared comprising a cationic liposome (L) containing a Gd-chelated lipid at 10, 15 and 20% by weight of total lipid, a receptor-targeted, DNA-binding peptide (P) and plasmid DNA (D), which electrostatically self-assembled into LPD nanocomplexes. The LPD formulation containing the liposome with 15% Gd-chelated lipid displayed optimal peptide-targeted, transfection efficiency.

Targeted magnetic delivery and tracking of cells using a magnetic resonance imaging system.

The success of cell therapies depends on the ability to deliver the cells to the site of injury. Targeted magnetic cell delivery is an emergent technique for localised cell transplantation therapy. The use of permanent magnets limits such a treatment to organs close to the body surface or an implanted magnetic source.

Magnetic resonance imaging of mesenchymal stem cells homing to pulmonary metastases using biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles.

The ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to specifically home to tumors has suggested their potential use as a delivery vehicle for cancer therapeutics. MSC integration into tumors has been shown in animal models using histopathologic techniques after animal sacrifice. Tracking the delivery and engraftment of MSCs into human tumors will need in vivo imaging techniques.

Nanoparticles functionalized with recombinant single chain Fv antibody fragments (scFv) for the magnetic resonance imaging of cancer cells.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) can substantially improve the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We propose that SPIONs could be used to target and image cancer cells if functionalized with recombinant single chain Fv antibody fragments (scFv). We tested our hypothesis by generating antibody-functionalized (abf) SPIONs using a scFv specific for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), an oncofoetal cell surface protein.

Magnetic tagging increases delivery of circulating progenitors in vascular injury.

Objectives: We sought to magnetically tag endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) with a clinical agent and target them to a site of arterial injury using a magnetic device positioned outside the body.

Background: Circulating EPCs are involved in physiological processes such as vascular re-endothelialization and post-ischemic neovascularization. However, the success of cell therapies depends on the ability to deliver the cells to the site of injury.

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of endogenous neuroblasts labelled with a ferumoxide-polycation complex.

Neurogenesis occurs at the subependymal zone (SEZ) of the adult brain. Neural progenitor cells give rise to neuroblasts, which migrate to the olfactory bulb (OB) via the rostral migratory stream (RMS). Development of methods capable of labelling and tracking these cells in vivo would be of great benefit to the understanding of neuroblast migration away from the SEZ under normal and pathological conditions.