Simultaneous Deep Tracking of Stem Cells by Surface Enhanced Raman Imaging Combined with Single‐Cell Tracking by NIR‐II Imaging in Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Stem cell therapy has been used as a potential approach for the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) over the last two decades. Imaging cellular behaviors of the transplanted stem cells with deep tissue penetration and high precision imaging modalities is crucial for the clinical translation of stem cell therapy approaches for MI. Herein, a gold nanostar (Au‐Star) based second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II) fluorescence/surface enhanced Raman scattering dual‐modal imaging probe (gold nanostar‐3.3′‐diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide‐silver sulfide nanoparticles, Au‐Star‐DTTC‐Ag2S NPs, GDS NPs) is designed for labeling and precise tracking of the stem cells. The Ag2S compartment generates strong NIR‐II emission, which compensates for the deficiencies of bioluminescent imaging and enables the dynamic observation of in vivo cellular behavior. Subsequently, the specific Raman signal of Au‐Star‐DTTC compartment enables high‐resolution imaging, which could effectively delineate stem cells from the surrounding normal tissues, even at a single‐cell resolution. Using this imaging and tracking approach, it is able to track stem cells in hypodermic and MI models, with high resolution and depth‐independent imaging capabilities, which have not been reported in any other cell tracking platform. This two‐armed imaging toolkit offers new opportunities for a wide range of mechanistic stem cell therapy investigations in different organs.

Surface‐Enhanced Raman Probes Based on Gold Nanomaterials for in vivo Diagnosis and Imaging

“…Moreover, AuNSs with long and narrow branches are associated with stronger plasmon absorption at longer infrared wavelengths, leading to a stronger SERS effect. Therefore, these types of gold nanomaterials manifest enhanced Raman properties when compared to gold nanospheres of similar size [102–103] …”

“…Therefore, these types of gold nanomaterials manifest enhanced Raman properties when compared to gold nanospheres of similar size. [102][103] Based on that, in 2018, Ou and Bardhan et al [8] used AuNSs modified with target antibodies and Raman-active molecules (pMBA: 4-mercaptobenzoic acid and DTNB: 5,5'-dithiobis (2nitrobenzoic acid)) to realize the simultaneous detection of immunomarker PD-L1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in breast cancer by non-invasive multiplex SERS. As we known, some Raman nanoparticles are usually delivered in tumors to obtain strong SERS signals.…”

Toward Sensitive and Reliable Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Imaging: From Rational Design to Biomedical Applications

“…Monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic strategy is another biomedical application that can be extended. 148 (5) In order to promote the applications of SERS probes in the biological environment, especially for clinical translation, more factors need to be considered. Nanoprobes with more favorable biocompatibility are conducive to better biological applications and achieve a more controllable outcome of probes in the living body.…”

Near-Infrared Inorganic Nanomaterials for Precise Diagnosis and Therapy

“… Chen et al (2020b) introduced a second near infrared fluorescence imaging strategy based on lead sulfide quantum dots dynamically monitoring bacterial infection in a real-time manner. A gold nanostar based near-infrared fluorescence imaging probe is designed by Hua et al (2021) for labeling and precise tracking of the stem cells, as a potential approach for the precise diagnosis and treatment of myocardial infarction. Keloid scars always accompany with an abnormal high reactive oxygen and nitrogen species level.…”