Stem cells/Tissue Engineering

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Schematic diagram of strategies for site-targeted imaging of stem/progenitor cells using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU)

Leong-Poi H Cardiovasc Res (2009) 84(2): 190-200 first published online July 22, 2009 doi:10.1093/cvr/cvp248 - Click here to view the abstract

With the rapid progression of research into stem or progenitor cell therapy, there is a growing need to develop imaging modalities to track progenitor cells in vivo after their delivery. The ability to track delivered cells using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) has only been recently investigated. This schematic diagram shows the potential strategies for CEU-targeted imaging of stem/progenitor cells, such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). One strategy involves alteration/transfection of EPCs to express a specific marker protein on the cell surface. Microbubbles (MB) targeted to engrafted EPCs could be constructed by the attachment of the ligand/antibody targeted against the specific cell surface marker protein on the microbubble surface (left panel, inset). When this EPC-targeted MB is administered intravenously, the MBs circulate to target sites where they can bind to EPCs that are engrafted within the vasculature and subsequently be imaged by CEU imaging techniques. The other described strategy involves manipulating EPCs to fully engulf MB prior to cell delivery. Once delivered and engrafted, ultrasonic imaging could then detect MBs present and retained within engrafted EPCs (right panel, inset). Future work will likely focus on 1) the refinement of these two strategies; 2) pre-clinical testing in relevant animal models of disease, and 3) the development of new techniques for progenitor cell-targeted CEU imaging.

Abbreviations: MB – microbubble; EPC – endothelial progenitor cell; PEG – polyethylene glycol; CEU – contrast-enhanced ultrasound

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