Quantum dots labeling using octa-arginine peptides for imaging of adipose tissue-derived stem cells

Quantum dots (QDs) have been used to study the effects of fluorescent probes for biomolecules and cell imaging. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells, which carry a relatively lower donor site morbidity, while yielding a large number of stem cells at harvest, were transduced with QDs using the octa-arginine peptide (R8) cell-penetrating peptide (CPP). The concentration ratio of QDs:R8 of 1 × 10⁴ was optimal for delivery into ASCs. No cytotoxicity was observed in ASCs transduced with less than 16 nM of QDs655. In addition, >80% of the cells could be labeled within 1 h and the fluorescent intensity was maintained at least for 2 weeks. The ASCs transduced with QDs using R8 could be differentiated into both adipogenic and osteogenic cells, thus suggesting that the cells maintained their stem cell potency. The ASCs labeled with QDs using R8 were further transplanted subcutaneously into the backs of mice or into mice through the tail vein. The labeled ASCs could be imaged with good contrast using the Maestro in vivo imaging system. These data suggested that QD labeling using R8 could be utilized for the imaging of ASCs.