OPTRACE: Optical Imaging-Guided Transplantation and Tracking of Cells in the Mouse Brain

Intracerebral cell transplantation holds great promise for treating stroke and other neurological disorders, but progress is hindered by challenges in precise cell delivery and limited methods for monitoring post-engraftment dynamics. To address these limitations, we introduce OPTRACE (OPtical imaging-guided Transplantation and tRAcking of CElls), a two-step framework that integrates precision delivery with longitudinal in vivo tracking to advance cell therapy. During transplantation, OPTRACE enables real-time visualization using cost-effective translucent glass micropipettes, guided by predictive modeling to optimize delivery parameters. A novel pulse-elevation injection technique further enhances the precision of superficial cortical engraftment. Following transplantation, multicolor labeling combined with two-photon fluorescence microscopy permits longitudinal single-cell tracking, revealing host microglial responses, and altered neuronal calcium signaling at the graft interface. By unifying high-resolution delivery and tracking strategies, OPTRACE provides a powerful platform for elucidating engraftment biology and accelerating the development of effective cell-based interventions for neurological diseases.