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Quantum dots for labeling adipose tissue-derived stem cells
Hiroshi Yukawa1, Shogo Mizufune, Chiharu Mamori
1Department of Advanced Medicine in Biotechnology and Robotics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 461-0047, Japan. hiroshiy@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Cell Transplantation
|September 25, 2009
Summary
Quantum dots (QDs) effectively label adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) for tracking and imaging. This method shows minimal cytotoxicity and preserves the cells
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Stem Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) are crucial for regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal and differentiation capabilities.
- Clinical applications necessitate methods for tracking transplanted cells and in vivo imaging.
- Quantum dots (QDs) offer novel inorganic fluorescent probes for biological labeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using Quantum dots (QDs655) with Lipofectamine for labeling adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs).
- To assess the cytotoxicity and time-dependent fluorescence intensity of QDs655 in ASCs.
- To determine if QDs655 labeling affects the differentiation potential of ASCs into adipogenic and osteogenic lineages.
Main Methods:
- Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) were labeled using negatively charged QDs655 and the cationic liposome Lipofectamine.
- Cytotoxicity assays were performed to determine safe concentration ranges for QDs655 transfection.
- Fluorescence intensity was monitored over 24 hours post-transfection to assess labeling stability and time dependency.
- Labelled ASCs were induced to differentiate into adipogenic and osteogenic cells to evaluate retained differentiation potential.
Main Results:
- Cytotoxicity was observed in ASCs at QDs655 concentrations above 2.0 nM, with no observed toxicity below 0.8 nM.
- Fluorescence intensity increased over time, peaking at 2 hours for lower concentrations (0.2-0.4 nM) and 4 hours for higher concentrations (0.8 nM).
- ASCs successfully differentiated into adipogenic and osteogenic cells post-labeling, exhibiting red fluorescence, indicating retained differentiation potential.
Conclusions:
- Quantum dots (QDs655) can be effectively utilized for labeling adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs).
- Safe labeling concentrations for QDs655 in ASCs were identified, with minimal cytotoxicity below 0.8 nM.
- QDs655 labeling does not impede the multipotent differentiation capacity of ASCs, supporting their use in cell tracking and imaging applications.
