Engineered core-shell magnetic nanoparticle for MR dual-modal tracking and safe magnetic manipulation of ependymal cells in live rodent

Tagging recognition group(s) on superparamagnetic iron oxide is known to aid localization (imaging), stimulation and separation of biological entities using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic agitation/separation (MAS) techniques. Despite the wide applicability of iron oxide nanoparticle in T2-weighted MRI and MAS, the quality of image and safe manipulation of exceptionally delicate neural cells in a live brain are currently the key challenges. Here, we demonstrate the engineered manganese oxide clusters-iron oxide core-shell nanoparticle as a MR dual-modal contrast agent (DMCA) for the applications in neural stem cells imaging and magnetic manipulation in live rodent. As a result, using this engineered nanoparticle and associated technologies, identification, stimulation and transportation of labelled potentially multipotent neural stem cells from a specific location of a live brain to another by magnetic means for self-healing therapy can therefore be made possible