Stem cell labeling with iron oxide nanoparticles: impact of 3D culture on cell labeling maintenance

We aimed to analyze the suitability of nanoparticles (M4E) for safe human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) labeling and determined cell labeling maintenance in 2D and 3D culture. We investigated cell-particle interaction and the particles' impact on cell viability, growth and proliferation. We analyzed cell labeling maintenance in 2D and 3D culture invasively and noninvasively. M4E do not affect cell viability, growth and proliferation and do not cause chromosomal aberrations. Cell labeling maintenance is up to five-times higher in 3D conditions compared with 2D culture. M4E allow safe hMSC labeling and noninvasive identification. Our hMSC-loaded, 3D tissue-engineered construct could serve as a graft for regenerative therapies, in which M4E-labeled hMSCs can migrate to their target.