Gold nanoparticles for in vivo cell tracking

Cell-based therapy offers a promising solution for the treatment of diseases and injuries that conventional medicines and therapies cannot cure effectively, and thus comprises an encouraging arena for future medical breakthroughs. The development of an accurate and quantitative noninvasive cell tracking technique is a highly challenging task that could help in evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. Moreover, cell tracking could provide essential knowledge regarding the fundamental trafficking patterns and poorly understood mechanisms underlying the success or failure of cell therapy. This article focuses on gold nanoparticles, which provide cells with 'visibility' in a variety of imaging modalities for stem cell therapy, immune cell therapy and cancer treatment. Current challenges and future prospects relating to the use of gold nanoparticles in such roles are discussed.