DNA-gadolinium-gold nanoparticles for in vivo T1 MR imaging of transplanted human neural stem cells.

ABSTRACT: The unambiguous imaging of transplanted cells remains a major challenge to understand their biological function and therapeutic efficacy. In vivo imaging of implanted cells is reliant on tagging these to differentiate them from host tissue, such as the brain. We here characterize a gold nanoparticle conjugate that is functionalized with modified deoxythymidine oligonucleotides bearing Gd(III) chelates and a red fluorescent Cy3 moiety to visualize in vivo transplanted human neural stem cells. This DNA-Gd@Au nanoparticle (DNA-Gd@AuNP) exhibits an improved T1 relaxivity and excellent cell uptake. No significant effects of cell uptake have been found on essential cell functions. Although T1 relaxivity is attenuated within cells, it is sufficiently preserved to afford the in vivo detection of t

SUBMITTER: Nicholls FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4684435 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature