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Annalisa Bettini, Peter Stephen Patrick, Richard M. Day, Daniel J. Stuckey.<\/strong><\/p>\n Advanced Healthcare Materials. 2024;13(17).<\/p>\n Summary<\/em><\/p>\n This study developed tiny sponge-like beads (called microcarriers) that can carry therapeutic cells and, importantly, can be seen clearly on medical imaging scans. The researchers added a harmless contrast material, barium sulphate, so the beads show up on computed tomography (CT) scans after they are injected into the body. This makes it possible for doctors to track where the implanted material goes, how long it stays in place, and whether the transplanted cells remain alive. In laboratory tests and in animal studies, the beads were safe, allowed cells to grow on them, and stayed visible on scans for at least two weeks. The microspheres could also be delivered through minimally invasive injections, including into the heart. Overall, this technology could help improve regenerative therapies by ensuring that implanted cell-carrying scaffolds reach the right location and stay there \u2013 while giving doctors a way to monitor the treatment in real time.<\/p>\n Abstract<\/em><\/p>\n Targeted delivery and retention are essential requirements for implantable tissue-engineered products. Non-invasive imaging methods that can confirm location, retention, and biodistribution of transplanted cells attached to implanted tissue engineering scaffolds will be invaluable for the optimization and enhancement of regenerative therapies. To address this need, an injectable tissue engineering scaffold consisting of highly porous microspheres compatible with transplantation of cells is modified to contain the computed tomography (CT) contrast agent barium sulphate (BaSO4). The trackable microspheres show high x-ray absorption, with contrast permitting whole-body tracking. The microspheres are cellularized with GFP+ Luciferase+ mesenchymal stem cells and show in vitro biocompatibility. In vivo, cellularized BaSO4-loaded microspheres are delivered into the hindlimb of mice where they remain viable for 14 days. Co-registration of 3D-bioluminescent imaging and \u00b5CT reconstructions enable the assessment of scaffold material and cell co-localization. The trackable microspheres are also compatible with minimally-invasive delivery by ultrasound-guided transthoracic intramyocardial injections in rats. These findings suggest that BaSO4-loaded microspheres can be used as a novel tool for optimizing delivery techniques and tracking persistence and distribution of implanted scaffold materials. Additionally, the microspheres can be cellularized and have the potential to be developed into an injectable tissue-engineered combination product for cardiac regeneration.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Access the full paper here:<\/p>\n