Cross-linked iron oxide nanoparticles for therapeutic engineering and in vivo monitoring of mesenchymal stem cells in cerebral ischemia model

Poly(ethylene glycol)-coated cross-linked iron oxide nanoparticles (PCIONs) are developed for therapeutic engineering of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their monitoring via magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at a time. PCIONs successfully combine with plasmid DNA (pDNA) via ionic interaction. Accordingly, PCION/pDNA complexes mediate superior translocations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pDNA into intracellular regions of MSCs under external magnetic field, which significantly elevate production of VEGF from MSCs. Genetically engineered MSCs are also clearly visualized via MR imaging after administration to rat cerebrovascular ischemia models, which enable tracking of MSCs migration from injected sites to injured ischemic area. Spherically cross-linked iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) via catechol-grafted poly-L-lysine (PLL-DN) are developed for therapeutic engineering of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by magnet-mediated transfection of vascular endothelial growth factor plasmid DNA. They also enable monitoring of the MSC migration from injected site to ischemic region in rat cerebrovascular ischemia models via magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.