Alternative methods for visualization of pancreatic islets.

Transplantation of pancreatic islets (PIs) represents an alternative treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. Post-transplant monitoring of islets by a reliable imaging method may contribute to the improvement of the transplantation outcome. In this thesis, novel visualization approaches for PIs were tested using magnetic resonance (MR) and optical imaging on phantoms and experimental animals, including Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MR, fluorine (19 F) MR, bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging. MR imaging based on frequency-selective method CEST was performed on islets labeled with Eu-/Yb-based chelates. Labeled islets possessed low MR signal in phantoms, what would have been unsatisfactory for in vivo applications. Moreover, viability and function of labeled islets was impaired reflecting limited applicability of these agents for islet labeling and visualization. Genetically modified bioluminescent islets showed suitable properties for longitudinal tracking of their post-transplant fate at an artificial transplant site - subcutaneously implanted polymeric scaffolds. Using multimodal imaging (MR and bioluminescence), the optimal timing for transplantation of islets into the scaffolds was assessed in diabetic rats. Islets transplanted into scaffolds using the optimized timing scheme..