Gas Vesicle-Expressing Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Enable Multimodal Ultrasound and Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging.

ABSTRACT: Genetically encoded imaging reporters are critical tools for tracking cell fate and function in regenerative medicine. Gas vesicles (GVs), air-filled protein nanostructures derived from bacteria, offer unique advantages for noninvasive imaging due to their acoustic and optical properties. In this study, we engineered human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to express GVs using a doxycycline-inducible system. Upon doxycycline (Dox) treatment, GVs formed intracellularly and enabled enhanced contrast in both ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Dynamic ultrasound imaging revealed pressure-dependent GV buckling and harmonic signal generation, while OCT imaging confirmed high sensitivity and depth-resolved detection in both in vitro and ex vivo retinal models. O

SUBMITTER: Howells AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12027335 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature