Clinically applicable magnetic-labeling of natural killer cells for MRI of transcatheter delivery to liver tumors: preclinical validation for clinical translation.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that MRI can monitor intraportal vein (IPV) transcatheter delivery of clinically applicable heparin-protamine-ferumoxytol (HPF) nanocomplex-labeled natural killer (NK) cells to liver tumor.

Materials & Methods: Liver tumor rat models underwent catheterization for IPV infusion of HPF-labeled NK cells (NK-92MI cell line). MRI measurements within tumor and adjacent liver tissues were compared pre- and post-NK cell infusion. Histology studies were used to identify NK cells in the target tumors.

Results: For first time, we demonstrated that MRI tracks HPF-labeled NK cells migration within liver following IPV delivery.

Conclusion: IPV transcatheter infusion permitted selective delivery of NK cells to liver tissues and MRI allowed tracking NK cell biodistributions within the tumors.