Figure 2

Quantification of labeling efficacy and proliferation rate of MSCs incubated with Feridex. (A-D) Evaluation of MSC cell labeling by Feridex and/or agents facilitating incorporation for 4 or 24 hrs. (A) Cells incubated with Feridex alone for 4 or 24 hrs showed little incorporation. (B) Cells exposed to Feridex and PLL showed an efficient incorporation rate. (C) Cells exposed to Feridex and protamine showed efficient incorporation of Feridex. (D) Quantification of labeling efficacy of MSCs incubated with FeProt complexes for 4 hrs and cultured for up 7 days. The number of cells labeled with Feridex was constant even after 7 days of Feridex incorporation. (E-H) Evaluation of proliferative capacity of MSCs exposed to Feridex and/or incorporation facilitator agents for 4 or 24 hrs. Alteration in proliferation rate was observed in MSCs incubated with FePLL complexes for 24 hrs; no change in proliferation was observed in the other groups. (E) Cells incubated with Feridex without an incorporation facilitator for 4 or 24 hrs. (F) MSCs labeled with Feridex and PLL for 4 or 24 hrs. (G) MSCs labeled with Feridex and protamine for 4 or 24 hrs. (H) Measurements of proliferative capacity of MSCs incubated with FeProt complexes for 4 hrs and cultured for up 7 days. The proliferation rate was maintained even after 7 days of Feridex incorporation. The "n" indicated on the top of the bars is the number of samples used for the quantification of each group. Error bars represent SEM. **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001.