SMART discovers novel method to predict effectiveness of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for cartilage repair

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are promising therapeutic agents for cartilage regeneration. By creating new cartilage tissue within the body, they can be used to develop therapies for joint injuries and common ailments such as osteoarthritis.    Researchers from Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, and collaborators from the National University of Singapore Tissue Engineering Programme (NUSTEP), have discovered a more efficient method for evaluating the ability of MSCs to regenerate cartilage – the first to utilise topological defects in the self-assembly of MSCs to forecast their cartilage regeneration potential. The novel method, which uses a simpler 2D monolayer culture system of the cells, is non-destructive, more accurate, and faster – requiring only 9 days compared to 21 days using conventional 3D methods.   This innovative method has the potential to revolutionise the field of cartilage regeneration as it allows researchers to identify effective cell batches and enable the more efficient development of new cartilage regeneration therapies. It also empowers manufacturers to conduct more frequent testing of their cell-based medicine, ensuring safety, purity, and effectiveness throughout production. This could potentially address the limitations of current surgical and pharmaceutical approaches in restoring cartilage function.