Noninvasive in-vivo tracing and imaging of transplanted stem cells for liver regeneration

Table 4 Comparison of characteristics of imaging modalities available for intrahepatic stem cell tracing

Imaging technique	Probes	Imaging methods	Sensitivity	Spatial resolution	Temporal resolution	Penetration depth	Quantitative degree	Cost
Fluorescence imaging	Fluorophores, QDs, GFP/RFP	Direct labeling/reporter genes	+++	+	++	+	+to++	$
Bioluminescence imaging	Luciferin	Reporter genes	+++	+	++	+	+to++	$
MRI	SPIO, gadolinium	Direct labeling	+	+++	+	+++	++
SPECT	¹¹¹In, ^99mTc, ¹³¹I	Direct labeling/reporter genes	++	++	+	+++	++	$$
PET	¹⁸F, ¹²⁴I	Direct labeling/reporter genes	++	++	+	+++	+++	$$$

+ common, ++ good, +++ excellent; $ cheap, $$ expensive, $$$ very expensive
QD quantum dot, GFP green fluorescent protein, RFP red fluorescent protein, MRI magnetic resonance imaging, SPIO superparamagnetic iron oxides, SPECT single photon emission computed tomography PET positron emission tomography

ISSN: 1757-6512