Stem cell tattoo: a new way to monitor cells in the body

Toronto University engineers have developed a method to put ink marks on stem cells. The marks remain identifiable once the stem cells are introduce into the body. 

The chemical mixture, which is described as a "tattoo" for stem cells, is an ink that can score the cell and thus enables researchers to follow it inside the body, and to study it at an unprecedented level of detail.

According to Professor of Engineering Hai-Ling at the University of Toronto, who was involved in the development of this technique, this invention could revolutionize the entire field of stem cell research by allowing researchers to follow extensively the evolution of cells and maximizing the effectiveness of developed therapies.

She believes that with this technique, the ability to see the cells evolve will allow avoiding the obstacles encountered in research and thus accelerate the progress in cell therapy.

The labeling agent that acts like ink was developed in collaboration with a chemistry professor who created a new component, a contrast agent composed, amongst other elements, of manganese, an element naturally in the body. In order to be tattooed, the cells are dipped in a green solution which will remain visible within the body. Unlike other similar solutions, it gets stuck in the cell after having penetrated the membrane therefore explaining its great value for research.