Magnetic Resonance Fluoroscopy Allows Targeted Delivery of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Infarct Borders in Swine

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Abstract
Background— The local environment of delivered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may affect their ultimate phenotype. MR fluoroscopy has the potential to guide intramyocardial MSC injection to desirable targets, such as the border between infarcted and normal tissue. We tested the ability to (1) identify infarcts, (2) navigate injection catheters to preselected targets, (3) inject safely even into fresh infarcts, and (4) confirm injection success immediately. Methods and Results— A 1.5-T MRI scanner was customized for interventional use, with rapid imaging, independent color highlighting of catheter channels, multiple-slice 3D rendering, catheter-only viewing mode, and infarct-enhanced imaging. MRI receiver coils were incorporated into guiding catheters and injection needles. These devices were tested for heating and used for targeted MSC delivery. In infarcted pigs, myocardium was targeted by MR fluoroscopy. Infarct-enhanced imaging included both saturation preparation MRI after intravenous gadolinium and wa...