Precision Ultrasound-guided Stem Cell Delivery for Vascular Repair in Aortic Diseases.

Abstract

Aortic aneurysms and dissections rupture are life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies. Early prevention and control of disease progression are essential for improving patient outcomes. Vascular stem cells play a crucial role in the repair of vascular injuries across various vascular diseases. However, intravascular stem cell injection therapies encounter challenges in ensuring efficient engraftment of exogenous stem cells within the vascular wall. To explore a more effective and minimally invasive approach for delivering stem cells in aortic diseases, we developed an ultrasound-guided precision-targeted stem cell delivery technology. Specifically, the technique utilized an ultra-high-resolution small animal color Doppler ultrasound imaging system to precisely locate the vascular wall of the ascending aorta in aortic disease mouse models. Subsequently, 1 × 10⁶ mCherry-labeled vascular stem cells mixed within 25 µL of Matrigel were injected using a 29 G needle. The progression of the disease was monitored by small animal ultrasound. Finally, the aorta was harvested and analyzed using 3D imaging with a light sheet microscope to track injected vascular stem cells. The above results demonstrate that the injected vascular stem cells were delivered accurately to the vascular wall of the ascending aorta with minimal invasiveness, thereby effectively promoting vascular repair in aortic aneurysms and dissections. This ultrasound-guided stem cell delivery technology offers a promising, minimally invasive method for stem cell transplantation, potentially controlling the progression of aortic aneurysms and dissections and other related cardiovascular diseases in clinics in the future.