Gold nanoparticles for multimodal high-resolution imaging of transplanted cells for retinal replacement therapy

Aim: Longitudinal tracking of transplanted cells in clinical and experimental setups is crucial for evaluating the efficiency of retinal cell replacement therapies. Materials & methods: Gold nanoparticle-labeled photoreceptor precursors were transplanted in the vitreous and subretinal space of rats and were longitudinally tracked for over a month using optical coherence tomography, computed tomography and fluorescence fundus imaging. Results: This multimodal imaging approach enabled high-resolution long-term tracking and estimation of cell survival in the retina and vitreous, while displaying no toxic effects on the cells or the retina. Conclusion: These observations highlight the applicability of using gold nanoparticle for retinal cell tracking in existing experimental settings and its translational potential for providing more efficient retinal cell therapy in humans.