Genomic analysis of iPSC-derived minimal injectable unit chondrospheroids (MIUChon) that can be delivered via intra-articular injections for osteoarthritis therapy

We developed novel iPSC-derived small MIUChon that can be delivered via intra-articular injections for OA therapy. To develop transplantable allogeneic cartilage tissue, we optimized clinical-grade manufacturing of injectable chondrogenic microspheres generated from cord blood mononuclear cell-derived iPSCs. We assessed the genetic stability of MIUChon by analyzing short tandem repeats (STRs), somatic mutations, and copy number variations (CNVs). To elucidate the differentiation process from CBMC-derived iPSCs into chondrospheroids (MIUChon) and investigate whether MIUChon possesses chondrospheroid characteristics, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) was performed on iPSC (labeled as MCB), mesenchymal-like OGC at the fourth passage (OGC_P4), and MIUChons differentiated at four time points (Days 3 (D3), 7 (D7), 13 (D13), and 14 (D14)).