Academic Journal
Signal Intensity versus Spatial Resolution: Divergent MPI Performance of SPIONs in Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Labelling.
| Τίτλος: | Signal Intensity versus Spatial Resolution: Divergent MPI Performance of SPIONs in Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Labelling. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Ozkan S; Women's and Children's Health Department, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.; Histology and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Kâtip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey., Ureña Horno E; Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK., Saul RN; Women's and Children's Health Department, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK., Maguire ML; Centre for Preclinical Imaging, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK., Poptani H; Centre for Preclinical Imaging, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.; Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK., Giardiello M; Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK., Murray P; Women's and Children's Health Department, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. |
| Πηγή: | International journal of nanomedicine [Int J Nanomedicine] 2026 Jul 27; Vol. 21, pp. 614533. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 27 (Print Publication: 2026). |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: DOVE Medical Press Country of Publication: New Zealand NLM ID: 101263847 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1178-2013 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 11769114 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Nanomedicine Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Auckland : DOVE Medical Press |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Mesenchymal Stem Cells*/cytology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells*/chemistry , Mesenchymal Stem Cells*/metabolism , Magnetic Particle Imaging*/methods , Magnetite Nanoparticles*/chemistry , Magnetite Nanoparticles*/toxicity , Cell Tracking*/methods , Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles*/chemistry, Cell Survival/drug effects ; Contrast Media/chemistry ; Dextrans/chemistry ; Animals ; Mice |
| Περίληψη: | Background and Aim: Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is a highly sensitive modality for non-invasive cell tracking; however, imaging performance is strongly influenced by nanoparticle properties and intracellular behavior following labelling. In this study, four commercially available superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) - ProMag, VivoTrax, SynoMag-D, and Ferumoxytol - were evaluated for labelling efficiency and cytocompatibility in mouse mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, followed by MPI characterization of biocompatible candidates. Methods: SPION labelling efficiency and cytocompatibility were systematically evaluated across a range of iron concentrations and incubation durations using Prussian blue staining, and ATP-based viability assay respectively. Based on these outcomes, biocompatible candidates were selected for further analysis. Cells labelled with ProMag or VivoTrax for 2-hour underwent MPI characterization to evaluate signal properties, alongside transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine intracellular nanoparticle localization and distribution. Results: ProMag achieved >90% labelling efficiency at 20 µg Fe/mL, whereas VivoTrax required ≥240 µg Fe/mL to reach >75% efficiency. SynoMag-D and Ferumoxytol required transfection agents that induced cytotoxicity and were excluded. MPI analysis demonstrated a linear correlation between signal intensity and cell number for both SPIONs. ProMag-labelled cells exhibited a 2.33-fold increase in total signal intensity, closely matching the ~2.3-fold increase in intracellular iron loading, confirming iron content as the primary determinant of signal strength and detection sensitivity (limit: 7,812 cells). In contrast, VivoTrax-labelled cells produced higher maximum signal per unit iron and significantly improved spatial resolution, indicated by reduced full width at half maximum, suggesting that spatial resolution is primarily governed by particle-specific physicochemical properties and their intracellular behavior following uptake. TEM revealed ProMag predominantly as dispersed particles, whereas VivoTrax formed aggregates within endosomal structures. Conclusion: Intracellular iron loading dictates MPI signal strength, whereas particle-specific characteristics govern spatial resolution. Optimizing SPION selection is therefore essential to balance sensitivity and image quality for preclinical cell tracking applications. (© 2026 Ozkan et al.) |
| Competing Interests: | The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: labelling; magnetic particle imaging; mesenchymal stromal cells; signal intensity; spatial resolution; superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Magnetite Nanoparticles) 0 (Contrast Media) 0 (Dextrans) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260801 Date Completed: 20260801 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260814 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13426357 |
| DOI: | 10.2147/IJN.S614533 |
| PMID: | 42540644 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1178-2013 |
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| DOI: | 10.2147/IJN.S614533 |