Research ArticleIn vivo visualization of gold-loaded cells in mice using x-ray computed tomography
Graphical Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are conjugated with horse serum proteins to induce cellular uptake. F98 glioma cells are loaded with GNPs and then injected into mouse brains. One week after tumor cell implantation the tumor has grown and the concentration of the GNP marker has decreased. In vivo x-ray CT was used to measure the tumor volume and to follow its growth by measuring the x-ray attenuation.
Section snippets
Methods
All animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the German and Italian guidelines for animal research. Permission to conduct the experiment was obtained in both countries.
Simulation
As an example, Figure 1, B shows a reconstructed slice of the simulated tumor, comprising an estimated 62,500 ± 4000 cells after two cell divisions. The ESD was 160 mGy using the discrete 3D head model as depicted in Figure 1, A. The pixel value is the linear attenuation coefficient. On the chosen gray scale, white would represent 3.15 cm–1 (4894 HU) and the black shade 5.6 × 10–4 cm–1 (–1000 HU). In this example the SNR = 66 and the C = 1.58 for an ROI that includes 88 pixels/voxel. A
Discussion
By means of a Monte Carlo simulation we were able to optimize the x-ray imaging protocol in terms of pixel size, exposure time, and entrance dose for in vivo cell tracking in a mouse model of human glioblastoma multiforme. From our simulations it turned out that quantitative volume evaluation of tumors based on GNP-loaded cells that had undergone two cell divisions could be considered compatible with an in vivo CT scan with no adverse effects on the animals’ health. The ESD for this
Acknowledgments
The authors are indebted to Diego Dreossi, Nicola Sodini, and Lucia Mancini for the help at the SYRMEP beamline.
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No conflict of interest was reported by the authors of this paper.