Development of Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Stem Cell Labeling and In Vivo Imaging

Abstract

Osteochondral defects in the knee remain to be the most challenging clinical problem for orthopedic surgeons with maximum disability in young athletes and elder people. Owing to the restricted healing ability of articular cartilage, it is complicated to treat osteochondral defects leading to disabling pain and early osteoarthritis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess therapeutic potential for the treatment of osteochondral pain and pathology. The utilization of bone marrow derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) for cartilage regeneration is well reported due to self-renewal ability, immunomodulatory properties, easy propagation and differentiation into bone and cartilage. In spite of this, there is need of a reliable, clinically applicable cell tracker for deciphering the homing and distribution of stem cell post transplantation. newlineIn this study, we report the development of a stable and biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticle(IONPs) system that can be used for stem cell labelling as well as simultaneous in vivo monitoring using magnetic resonance imaging. Biocompatible magnetite (Fe3O4) iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized using chemical co-precipitation method followed by surface modification with biomolecules like L-Arginine, L-Histidine, L-Lysine and and#946;-cyclodextrin. The characterization of synthesized IONPs were carried out based on the presence of functional group [Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)], crystallite nature and size [x-ray diffraction (XRD)], particle size [transmission electron microscopy(TEM)], magnetization [vibrating sample magnetometry(VSM)] and surface charge [zeta potential]. All the characterization techniques validated the formation of crystalline superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for their use in vivo MR imaging.