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Nitric oxide (NO) biosensors are novel tools for real-time bioimaging of tissue oxygen changes and physiological monitoring of tissue vasculature. Nitric oxide behavior further enhances its role in mapping signal transduction at the molecular level. Spectrometric electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and fluorometric imaging are well known techniques with the potential for in vivo bioimaging of NO. In tissues, NO is a specific target of nitrosyl compounds for chemical reaction, which provides a unique opportunity for application of newly identified NO biosensors.However, the accuracy and sensitivity of NO biosensors still need to be improved. Another potential magnetic resonance technique based on short term NO effects on proton relaxation enhancement is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and some NO biosensorsmay be used as potent imaging contrast agents for measurement of tumor size by MRI combined with fluorescent imaging.The present review provides supporting information regarding the possible use of nitrosyl compounds as NO biosensors in MRI and fluorescent bioimaging showing their measurement limitations and quantitative accuracy. These new approaches open a perspective regarding bioimaging of NO and the in vivo elucidation of NO effects by magnetic resonance techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With recent advances in nanotechnology, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been extensively studied as substrates for cell culture, drug delivery systems, and medical implant materials. However, surprisingly little is known about the effect of CNTs on collective cellular processes (e.g., adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation). This leads to the need for quantitative characterization of the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on multiwalled CNT-s (MWCNTs-) collagen scaffolds. In here, a set of MWCNTs-collagen scaffolds where three different types of MWCNTs are, respectively, entrapped in reconstituted type I collagen at four different concentrations less than 100 ppm are prepared; the MSC differentiation thereon is investigated by monitoring the transcription factor RunX2 (RunX), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), alkaline phosphatase (AP), osteocalcin, and mineralized nodules of extracellular matrix (ECM). In short, the MWCNT-collagen scaffolds induced significant increases in AP activity and ECM mineralization due to the increased stiffness and strength of the scaffold by entrapping MWCNTs. This offers a potential for controlling MSC differentiation using MWCNT-collagen scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]