Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide)-Coated Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cell Tracking

Abstract Objective: The objective of this work was to explore a new modality of cell tracking that uses multifunctional nanoparticles. The tracking of transfused cells in vivo is an important step to study the therapeutic course and mechanism of cell therapeutics. Background Data: Several methods of cell tracking have been developed. Our novel method uses multifunctional nanoparticles to track cells via both fluorescence and magnetic resonance. Materials and Methods: Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-coated multifunctional nanoparticles containing both CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and Fe3O4 magnetic particles were used to label Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The labeled cells were measured by confocal fluorescence microscope in vitro at the photoluminescent band (600 nm) of QDs. When these labeled cells were injected into the mouse, the in vivo images were detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: The nanoparticles easily bound to the plasma membrane of CHO cells after incubation at 37°C. ...