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Gd loading by hypotonic swelling: an efficient and safe route for cellular labeling.
Enza Di Gregorio1, Giuseppe Ferrauto, Eliana Gianolio
1Molecular Imaging Center, Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126-, Torino, Italy.
Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging
|December 31, 2013
Summary
Hypotonic shock efficiently labels cells with MRI contrast agents. This method is straightforward and promising for various cell types, offering a new tool for in vitro cellular labeling.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Cells swell and membranes become permeable in hypo-osmotic media.
- This allows molecules from the medium to enter the cell cytoplasm.
- This phenomenon is utilized for cellular labeling with MRI contrast agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate determinants of cellular labeling via hypotonic shock.
- Assess cell viability, proliferation, and morphology.
- Compare hypotonic shock with pinocytosis and electroporation.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of J774A.1 and K562 cells in hypo-osmotic media with Gd-HPDO3A.
- Evaluation of cell viability, proliferation, and morphology.
- Comparative analysis with pinocytosis and electroporation techniques.
Main Results:
- Hypotonic shock successfully labels cells with paramagnetic complexes (2x10^9 to 2x10^10 per cell).
- The method is effective for both adherent and suspended cells.
- Investigated effects of charge, size, and structure of metal complexes.
Conclusions:
- Hypotonic shock is an efficient and promising method for cellular labeling.
- The methodology is straightforward and adaptable for various cell types.
- This technique is expected to be widely used for in vitro cellular labeling.
