New rapid test offers real-time insights into cartilage-forming stem cells
Researchers from the Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP), an interdisciplinary research group of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, have developed a rapid, non-destructive technique to monitor iron flux in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The advance enables scientists to assess within a minute whether these cells can form cartilage, a key requirement for regenerative therapies used to treat osteoarthritis and other joint conditions.
The study was supported by Smart’s Antimicrobial Resistance research group and conducted in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National University of Singapore.
Regenerative therapies aim to repair damaged tissue rather than manage symptoms. However, manufacturing MSC-based treatments remains challenging because the cells’ chondrogenic potential – their ability to develop into cartilage — can vary during laboratory production. Even under controlled conditions, MSCs may lose this capacity, leading to inconsistent treatment outcomes.
Current methods for testing cartilage-forming potential are destructive and require up to 21 days of cell growth. These limitations can delay decision-making, extend production timelines and render tested cells unusable. Researchers therefore sought a faster and reliable way to evaluate MSC quality early in the manufacturing process.
In a study published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine, the team described a technique that measures iron flux by analyzing spent culture media. Using a benchtop micromagnetic resonance relaxometry device, the method tracks changes in iron concentration in real time without harming the cells. Because the device is relatively inexpensive and easy to integrate into laboratory workflows, it could enable routine quality monitoring without major infrastructure changes.
Iron homeostasis plays an essential role in cell function, balancing the need for iron with the risk of toxic accumulation. The researchers found that increased iron uptake and buildup in MSCs reduced their ability to form cartilage. They also observed that supplementing cell cultures with ascorbic acid helped regulate iron levels and improve cartilage-forming potential.
With the new approach, scientists collect spent media samples and treat them with ascorbic acid before using the device to detect subtle iron changes. These measurements reveal how MSCs absorb and release iron, providing an early indication of whether a cell batch is likely to produce high-quality cartilage.
According to Dr. Yanmeng Yang, postdoctoral associate at Smart Camp and the study’s first author, the method introduces iron flux dynamics as a novel critical quality attribute for MSCs. He said the approach enables early detection of suboptimal cell batches, improving quality control, lowering manufacturing costs and accelerating clinical translation.
Professor Jongyoon Han, co-lead principal investigator at Smart Camp and corresponding author of the study, said the research makes it possible to observe a biological process that has been difficult to measure. He noted that real-time iron monitoring offers actionable insights into cartilage-forming potential and supports the use of micromagnetic resonance relaxometry as a practical quality control strategy for MSC-based therapies.
Beyond manufacturing benefits, the technique contributes to broader research on iron biology by enabling real-time measurement of iron flux. The findings may also support the development of more consistent and clinically viable regenerative treatments for cartilage repair.
The team plans further preclinical and clinical studies to expand the use of the technology beyond manufacturing quality control and evaluate its potential as a validated tool for clinical translation of MSC-based therapies. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore under its CREATE program.
Category: Education
