18 research outputs found
Directing cell therapy to anatomic target sites in vivo with magnetic resonance targeting
Cell-based therapy exploits modified human cells to treat diseases but its targeted application
in specific tissues, particularly those lying deep in the body where direct injection is not
possible, has been problematic. Here we use a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to
direct macrophages carrying an oncolytic virus, Seprehvir, into primary and metastatic tumour
sites in mice. To achieve this, we magnetically label macrophages with super-paramagnetic
iron oxide nanoparticles and apply pulsed magnetic field gradients in the direction of the
tumour sites. Magnetic resonance targeting guides macrophages from the bloodstream into
tumours, resulting in increased tumour macrophage infiltration and reduction in tumour
burden and metastasis. Our study indicates that clinical MRI scanners can not only track the
location of magnetically labelled cells but also have the potential to steer them into one or
more target tissues