Ali Shakeri-Zadeh, PhD

Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science

• Institute for Cell Engineering

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-shakeri-zadeh-a5152528/

• Grant: Dynamic MPI cytometry of mesenchymal stem cells in a mouse model of MS; Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, Tedco (September 20, 2023)

  Using magnetic labeling of stem cells and in conjugation with MRI, quantitative dynamic MPI will be used to address some fundamental queries about the fate of stem cells after intravenous (IV), intraarterial (IA), and intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection in a mouse model of MS (EAE model). We will perform fast dynamic MPI at the time of injection and then monitor the mice over weeks. By analyzing data from this non-invasive imaging, neurological function tests, and post-mortem examinations for early and late time periods, it will be possible to determine how different cell administration routes affect immunomodulation and remyelination in a mouse model of MS. 

Nanomedicine, In vivo Cell Tracking, Multimodal Imaging-Guided Therapy, Regenerative Medicine, Photothermal Therapy, Radiation Therapy, Theranostic Nanoparticles

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IBaCVR4AAAAJ&hl=en

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Shakeri-Zadeh+A&cauthor_id=33340564

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ali-Shakeri-Zadeh-2

• Front Cover: Cold quad-modal nanocomplexes. Advanced Functional Materials, 2026. In this Research Article, we show that albumin–bismuth sulfide–superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocomplexes allow precise and quantitative stem cell tracking with four different imaging modalities: magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic particle imaging, multispectral optoacoustic tomography, and computed tomography.
• Front Cover: Magnetotheranostic Nanoflowers. Advanced Functional Materials, 2026. In this Research Article, we use tumor-tropic mesenchymal stem cells as delivery vehicles for magnetotheranostic gold–iron oxide nanoflowers. Magnetic particle imaging of the iron component demonstrates widespread intratumoral distribution and sustained retention. The gold component enables effective photothermal therapy resulting in complete tumor ablation.
• Monitoring biological effects of somatic cell genome editing. Nature Reviews Genetics, 2026.
• MPI‐guided photothermal therapy of prostate cancer using stem cell delivery of magnetotheranostic nanoflowers. Advanced Functional Materials, 2026.
• Cold quad‐modal nanocomplex for precise and quantitative in vivo stem cell tracking. Advanced Functional Materials, 2025.
• Spillover can limit accurate signal quantification in MPI. npj Imaging, 2025.
• Imaging-guided precision hyperthermia with magnetic nanoparticles. Nature Reviews Bioengineering, 2025.
• Tumor-tropic Trojan horses: Using mesenchymal stem cells as cellular nanotheranostics. Theranostics, 2024.

•  Cell Tracking in Regenerative Medicine 

All-in-one Multimodal Nanotheranostic Platform for Image-Guided Therapy

We have developed a novel all-in-one multimodal contrast agent usable in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic particle imaging (MPI), magnetic-motive ultrasound (MMUS) imaging, (magneto)photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and computed tomography (CT). Moreover, the contrast agent doubles as a theranostic sensitizer for photothermal therapy, magnetic hyperthermia, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and radiotherapy. Significantly, the invention’s compatibility with MPI, a novel imaging method projected to have widespread use in the near future, captures a new niche among current multimodal contrast agents. More details can be found here: https://jhu.technologypublisher.com/technology/48041

C17455

Early-stage investigator award; Alavi-Bradley symposium on molecular imaging and theranostics, University of Maryland, 1/1/22

Selected Presentations:

• In vivo MPI tracking of intracerebroventricular-injected human mesenchymal stem cells in an EAE mouse model. Oral presentation, World Molecular Imaging Congress, Anchorage, Alaska, USA. October 2, 2025.  
• Quantitative imaging for advancing precision medicine. Invited oral presentation, Drug R&D Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. February 10, 2025.  
• MPI/MRI cell tracking of ALS patient-derived genome-corrected iPSCs and iPSC-derived motor neurons. Oral presentation, Contrast Media Research Symposium, Annapolis, Maryland, USA. August 21, 2022.  
• MPI/MRI of cerebral homing of SPIO-labeled stem cells after intra-arterial injection. Oral presentation, The Future of Molecular MRI, Pasadena, California, USA. July 23, 2022.  
• Gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles in cancer nanotheranostics. Invited oral presentation, UNESCO–UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Webinar. October 12, 2022.  
• Magnetoplasmonic nanoparticles as cancer theranostic agents. Invited oral presentation, World Molecular Imaging Society Webinar. September 28, 2021.

• American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
• World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS)
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)