Researchers from SMART and MIT have developed a rapid, non-destructive method to monitor iron flux in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) using a benchtop micromagnetic resonance relaxometry (µMRR) device. By measuring iron changes in spent cell culture media, the system can predict a cell batch's chondrogenic potential — its ability to form cartilage — within minutes, without damaging the cells. The study found that iron homeostasis strongly correlates with cartilage-forming ability, and that ascorbic acid supplementation can help regulate iron flux to improve MSC quality. This approach enables real-time quality control during MSC manufacturing, reducing the need for the current 21-day destructive tests, cutting costs, and accelerating clinical translation of regenerative therapies for joint diseases like osteoarthritis.
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