Labeling Stem Cells with a New Hybrid BismuthCarbon Nanotube Contrast Agent for X-Ray Imaging

Abstract EN

The poor retention and survival of cells after transplantation to solid tissue represent a major obstacle for the effectiveness of stem cell-based therapies.

The ability to track stem cells in vivo can lead to a better understanding of the biodistribution of transplanted cells, in addition to improving the analysis of stem cell therapies’ outcomes.

Here, we described the use of a carbon nanotube-based contrast agent (CA) for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging as an intracellular CA to label bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Porcine MSCs were labeled without observed cytotoxicity.

The CA consists of a hybrid material containing ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes (20–80 nm in length, US-tubes) and Bi(III) oxo-salicylate clusters which contain four Bi3+ ions per cluster (Bi4C).

The CA is thus abbreviated as Bi4C@US-tubes.