Jens T. Rosenberg1, 2, Katelyn Sellgren2, Michelle A. Baird, Micheal W. Davidson, 3, Teng Ma2, Samuel Colles Grant1, 2
1Center for Interdisciplinary Magnetic Resonance, The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL, United States; 2Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States; 3Department of Biological Science, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
Labeling of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) have been demonstrated but few studies have investigated biological impacts or long term tracking capability, especially under stroke conditions. This study shows that hMSCs display dose dependent SPIO uptake and progressive decreases in contrast over extended culture mimicking the maximum expected transplant duration. Though other biological effects were impacted minimally by SPIOs, hypoxic ischemic conditions increased cytotoxicity significantly, with vulnerability related to SPIO exposure. This finding needs to be considered when introducing intracellular contrast agents for cellular based regenerative therapies in an ischemic, low oxygen environment.