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Generation and Labeling of Murine Bone Marrow-derived Dendritic Cells with Qdot Nanocrystals for Tracking Studies
Published on: June 2, 2011
[Magnetic/luminescent quantum dots bifunctional nanoparticles labeling of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells]
Rong-hua Yan1, Hong Shan, Li-bo Nie
1Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the dual-labeling efficiency of magnetic and luminescent quantum dots bifunctional nanoparticles to rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC).
Methods:
Rat BMSC were isolated, purified, and expanded. Magnetic/luminescent bifunctional nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)@CdTe@SiO(2)), were prepared by using silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) to encapsulate simultaneously Fe(3)O(4) and CdTe quantum dots. BMSC were incubated with the Fe(3)O(4)@CdTe@SiO(2) nanoparticles which iron concentration was 25 microg/ml. Fluorescence microscope was used to detect the fluorescence of the intracellular nanoparticles. The dual-labeled BMSC with various concentration underwent ex vivo MR imaging with T(1)WI, T(2)WI and T(2)(*)WI sequences. To show the intracellular iron of labeled cells, prussian blue stain was performed. Spectrophotometer was used to detect the iron concentration in the cells.
Results:
Intracellular red fluorescence of Fe(3)O(4)@CdTe@SiO(2) can be observed via fluorescent microscopy. Rat BMSC could be effectively dual-labeled with approximately 90% efficiency. The MR images with T(2)WI and T(2)(*)WI sequences, especially with T(2)(*)WI sequence, showed that the signals of the dual-labeled BMSC were lower than those of the unlabeled cells. Cellular total iron is 14.05 + or - 4.15 pg per cell. Iron containing intracytoplasmic vesicles could be observed with Prussian blue staining.
Conclusion:
Rat BMSC can be dual-labeled successfully with Fe(3)O(4)@CdTe@SiO(2) magnetic/luminescent bifunctional nanoparticles successfully, and might serve as a tool for magnetic resonance imaging and in vivo optical imaging.

