Tracking of transplanted neural stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide in ischemic stroke

Clinical treatments for ischemic stroke are limited. At present, neural stem cell (NSC) therapy is considered a promising method for treating ischemic stroke. However, the behavior of transplanted NSCs remains ambiguous. Herein, we report the feasibility of superparamagnetic iron oxide labeling for long-time magnetic resonance imaging to track transplanted NSCs in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model. According to our studies, in vivo monitoring of transplanted NSCs during ischemic stroke in the current work may provide another insight into the tracking strategy of transplanted NSCs, thereby advancing NSC-based therapy toward clinical application.