MRI tracking of polyethylene glycol-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide-labelled placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells toward glioblastoma stem-like cells in a mouse model

AbstractMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that display homing and infiltration properties towards tumor cells are a promising cellular targeting vector for brain tumor therapy but are limited to local-regional delivery in current preclinical models. Here, we investigated whether placenta-derived MSCs (P-MSCs) are a superior cellular vector for systemic targeting of glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs), with an imaging modality to real-time monitor the trafficking P-MSCs to glioblastoma sites. Results demonstrated that P-MSCs had greater migratory activity towards GSCs and across blood–brain barrier compared with bone marrow-derived MSCs, and this activity was enhanced by hypoxia precondition. Chemokine ligand 5 was identified as a chemoattractant responsible for the glioblastoma tropism of P-MSCs. Polyethylene glycol-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide (PEG–SPIO) was synthesized for cellular labelling and imaging P-MSCs, displaying high cellular uptake and no cytotoxic effect on P-MSCs cell proliferation or st...