Abstract
Stem cell transplantation therapy is attracting attentions, recently. However, not only its therapeutic mechanism but also the information about stem cell fate after transplantation was not clarified yet. We have been developing a novel cell tracking system based on polymeric MRI contrast agent that has highly bioinert water soluble polymeric carriers. This system enabled us a quantitative analysis of the in vivo viability of the transplanted stem cells in addition to their distribution. In order to achieve long and stable intracellular retentivity, polymers that interact with cell membrane very weakly and were not internalized by the cells were selected. The polymeric-gadolinium contrast agent was delivered into the stem cells by the electroporation system. We then have proved its great efficacy by showing the stemcell migration and survival in endothelial progenitor cell transplantation to rat hind limb ischemia models.
