Stem cell therapy
in heart disease is challenged by mis-injection,
poor survival, and low cell retention. Here, we describe a biocompatible
multifunctional silica–iron oxide nanoparticle to help solve
these issues. The nanoparticles were made via an in situ growth of Fe3O4 nanoparticles
on both the external surfaces and pore walls of mesocellular foam
silica nanoparticles. In contrast to previous work, this approach
builds a magnetic moiety inside the pores of a porous silica structure.
These materials serve three roles: drug delivery, magnetic manipulation,
and imaging. The addition of Fe3O4 to the silica
nanoparticles increased their colloidal stability, T
2-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast, and superparamagnetism.
We then used the hybrid materials as a sustained release vehicle of
insulin-like growth factora pro-survival agent that can increase
cell viability. In vivo rodent studies show that
labeling stem cells with this nanoparticle increased the efficacy
of stem cell therapy in a ligation/reperfusion model. The nanoparticle-labeled
cells increase the mean left ventricular ejection fraction by 11 and
21% and the global longitudinal strain by 24 and 34% on days 30 and
60, respectively. In summary, this multifunctional nanomedicine improves
stem cell survival via the sustained release of pro-survival
agents.
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