Fig. 3
Copyright 2013 Springer Nature
Cell tracking technique can be used to monitor monocyte dynamics. Cells are selected and incubated with labelling reagent in vitro—superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles or perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsion, then these cells are administered to the body. The labelling agent can also be directly intravenously injected and taken up by monocytes/macrophages, which then accumulated in the inflamed region. Both in vitro and in vivo labelling cells can be monitored through 1H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or 19F MRI scan. In addition, 19F MRI signal can be quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to evaluate inflammation severity. Reprinted with permission [74].