Monika Barczewska1, Joanna Wojtkiewicz1, Aleksandra Habich1, Miroslaw Janowski2, 3, Zbigniew Adamiak4, Piotr Holak4, Hubert Matyjasik4, Jeff WM Bulte2, 3, Wojciech Maksymowicz1, Piotr Walczak2, 3
1Neurology and Neurosurgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland; 2Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University; 3Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; 4Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
Degenerative disc disease is related to substantial morbidity and no treatment exists that can restore disc structure. Stem cell-based therapy is a new promising therapeutic approach; however, for the use of stem cells a precise and minimally invasive cell delivery procedure is of critical importance. We show here that MR monitoring can be used to verify the accurate delivery of cells and provide a detailed picture of initial cell engraftment and biodistribution in a clinically relevant fashion.