A primer on in vivo cell tracking using MRI

Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng

doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1193459

A primer on in vivo cell tracking using MRI

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 May 31:10:1193459. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1193459. eCollection 2023.

Author

Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Cell tracking by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a collection of multiple advantages over other imaging modalities, including high spatial resolution, unlimited depth penetration, 3D visualization, lack of ionizing radiation, and the potential for long-term cell monitoring. Three decades of innovation in both contrast agent chemistry and imaging physics have built an expansive array of probes and methods to track cells non-invasively across a diverse range of applications. In this review, we describe both established and emerging MRI cell tracking approaches and the variety of mechanisms available for contrast generation. Emphasis is given to the advantages, practical limitations, and persistent challenges of each approach, incorporating quantitative comparisons where possible. Toward the end of this review, we take a deeper dive into three key application areas - tracking cancer metastasis, immunotherapy for cancer, and stem cell regeneration - and discuss the cell tracking techniques most suitable to each.

Keywords: cellular imaging and cell tracking; ferritin; gadolinium; iron oxide; manganese; reporter gene.

Publication types

Review