NanoSTARS imaging for STEM cell therapy for arthritic joints
STARSTEM proposes imaging of stem cell engraftment in arthritic joints of large animals at clinically relevant depths, using nanoparticles with novel optical properties which enable unprecedented penetration depth and sensitivity. Arthritis is the most prevalent disease worldwide, with osteoarthritis (OA) affecting around 10% of the global population and around 70 million patients in Europe. There is no effective cure for OA at present and the majority of the treatments are symptomatic and not restorative. Stem cell therapy provides a unique opportunity for the self-regeneration of injured cartilage. One of the major hurdles in stem cell mediated-therapy is the inability to diagnose successful engraftment in real time using conventional imaging techniques. STARSTEM will address the major technology gaps to enable imaging of human stem cells at clinically relevant depths. STARSTEM is proposing the use of novel dual plasmonic gold nanostars (nanostars)-enhanced multi-modal imaging to detect stem cell engraftment and tissue repair, and thus their activity and efficacy as a therapy. STARSTEM will harness the best properties of light and sound with a photoacoustic (PA) imaging system for large animal and human finger imaging as proof-of-concept which exploits the unique advantages of our nanomaterial for differential and deep-tissue imaging. Functional imaging using PA enables the real time monitoring of engraftment and the therapeutic process at the site of interest, while highly sensitive anatomical imaging using MRI (using nanostar conjugated with magnetic nanoparticles as contrast agent) enables tracking of the movement and retention in individual organs of the transplanted cells that did not engraft. Algorithms for co-registered PA-MRI imaging approach will enable monitoring of the therapeutic process with high sensitivity. The overall imaging approach is designed to address small to large animal testing for efficacy and safety prior to clinical testing on humans.
STARSTEM project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 761214. The material presented and views expressed here are the responsibility of the author(s) only. The EU Commission takes no responsibility for any use made of the information set out.
Web: https://starstem.eu/
nTRACK- Multimodal nanoparticles for structural and functional tracking of stem cell therapy on muscle regeneration
nTRACK is developing multimodal nanoparticles for structural and functional tracking of stem cell therapy on muscle regeneration. Stem cells will be labelled with nTRACK gold nano-particles and fully characterised for uptake, functionality, and safety. The labelled stem cells will be injected into an injured muscle and tracked using imaging systems. Functionality, activity and nonclinical safety will be evaluated. Regulatory and commercialization aspects will be addressed to foster a prompt clinical translation and exploitation.
n-TRACK responds to the need of tools to evaluate and predict the safety and success of cell-based treatments in earlier stages.
The current lack of methods providing real-time tracking of transplanted cells and knowledge on their early biodistribution and viability, is one of the major weakness of the available cell-based treatments.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 761031. This publication reflects only the author’s views and the European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.