Longitudinal MRI Tracking of Transplanted Neural Progenitor Cells in the Spinal Cord Utilizing the Bright Ferritin Mechanism

Motivation: A non-invasive imaging technology for monitoring cell survival and in-vivo migration after transplantation is critical to optimizing and translating stem cell-based therapies. Goal(s): To extend our previously reported bright-ferritin cell tracking platform to monitoring stem cell therapy, we investigated tracking human neural progenitor cells transplanted in the rat spinal cord. Approach: In-vitro assays of proliferation and differentiation, and imaging both in vitro on cell pellets and in vivo in rats were performed. Results: Monitoring rats on MRI over seven weeks confirmed the ability to assess cell retention and distribution in the rat spinal cord. Impact: Our bright-ferritin platform demonstrated no adverse effects on human neural progenitor cells. Stem cells injected in the rat spinal cord could be tracked longitudinally and on-demand via a bright T1-contrast on MRI.