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Fluorescence molecular tomography enables in vivo visualization and quantification of nonunion fracture repair induced by genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells
Author(s) -
Zilberman Yoram,
Kallai Ilan,
Gafni Yossi,
Pelled Gadi,
Kossodo Sylvie,
Yared Wael,
Gazit Dan
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.20518
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , nonunion , in vivo , genetically engineered , stem cell , visualization , fluorescence , biomedical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biology , anatomy , computer science , biochemistry , gene , data mining , physics , quantum mechanics
Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is a novel tomographic near‐infrared (NIR) imaging modality that enables 3D quantitative determination of fluorochrome distribution in tissues of live small animals at any depth. This study demonstrates a noninvasive, quantitative method of monitoring engineered bone remodeling via FMT. Murine mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing the osteogenic gene BMP2 (mMSCs‐BMP2) were implanted into the thigh muscle and into a radial nonunion bone defect model in C3H/HeN mice. Real‐time imaging of bone formation was performed following systemic administration of the fluorescent bisphosphonate imaging agent OsteoSense™, an hydroxyapatite‐directed bone‐imaging probe. The mice underwent imaging on days 7, 14, and 21 postimplantation. New bone formation at the implantation sites was quantified using micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) imaging. A higher fluorescent signal occurred at the site of the mMSC‐BMP2 implants than that found in controls. Micro‐CT imaging revealed a mass of mature bone formed in the implantation sites on day 21, a finding also confirmed by histology. These findings highlight the effectiveness of FMT as a functional platform for molecular imaging in the field of bone regeneration and tissue engineering. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:522–530, 2008