By Peter Weiss
In the next few years, doctors may start injecting people with human embryonic stem cells to treat maladies such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes. However, tracking those cells, which can differentiate into any cell type in the body, is a challenge. In animal studies (SN: 9/1/01, p. 143: Stem cell research marches on), researchers dissect their subjects to find out where such cells go and how they develop.
Fortunately, stem cells readily absorb composite magnetic particles called magnetodendrimers. These “sticky” specks could open the way to monitoring stem cell therapy without invading the body, says Jeff W. M. Bulte of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.