Abstract: AIM: To investigate a novel Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) used for labeling Schwann cells (SCs) and tracing in vivo by magnetic resonance.METHODS: The novel SPIO was prepared with Fe₂O₃ coated by a thin layer of dimercaptosuccinic acid, and then it was used for labeling SCs. The SCs of trial group were labeled by SPIO. The SCs of control group weren't labeled by SPIO. Every group had ten samples. The labeled SCs were identified by Prussian blue stain and counted by MTT. Lastly, the labeled SCs was transplanted into rat brain and scanned by MRI.RESULTS: Prussian blue stain indicated that SCs could be high efficiently labeled by the novel SPIO. MTT detection suggested the difference of viable cells relative number was not significant between trial group and control group (P＞0.05). Hypo-intense changes of MRI T₂ examination could be observed in the transplanted area of rat brainlabeled by the new SPIO after transplantation in rats brain.CONCLUSION: The novel Superparamagnetic iron oxide had no significant effect on the proliferation and viability of SCs. SCs still could be labelled with the novel SPIO directly and high efficiently without the use of poly-L-lysine or other additional transfecting agents. The transplanted cells could be well imaged and traced in vivo.

Key words: Superparamagnetic iron oxide, Schwann cells, Magnetic resonance imaging