Development of low physical energy logistics methods

Planned Research

Project Area	Next-generation non-invasive biological deep-tissue manipulation by biomolecular engineering and low physical energy logistics
Project/Area Number	20H05759
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Review Section	Transformative Research Areas, Section (III)
Research Institution	The University of Tokyo
Principal Investigator	Nakagawa Keiichi 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 講師 (00737926)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	関野正樹東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 教授 (20401036)
Project Period (FY)	2020-10-02 – 2023-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help	¥38,090,000 (Direct Cost: ¥29,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥8,790,000) Fiscal Year 2022: ¥12,350,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,850,000) Fiscal Year 2021: ¥12,350,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,850,000) Fiscal Year 2020: ¥13,390,000 (Direct Cost: ¥10,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,090,000)
Keywords	音波刺激 / 磁気刺激 / 光刺激 / オプトジェネティクス
Outline of Research at the Start	本研究では，次世代の非侵襲深部生体操作法の開発のため，生体深部の目的部位に所望の物理エネルギー／物理場を届ける，低物理エネルギーロジスティクス法の創成を目的とします．バイオメディカル応用における様々な物理エネルギーに対し，①生体操作に必要な物理エネルギー／場を知ること，② 体外で所望の物理エネルギーを生成すること，③体内の目的部位へ物理エネルギーを供給すること，三項目に取り組み，体系化を試みます．
Outline of Final Research Achievements	In this study, we developed a method of biological stimulation using ultrasounds and magnetic fields that can penetrate deep into the body, where light cannot reach. In the ultrasound stimulation method study, we developed an ultrasound generation system based on optical technology and combined it with a microscopic system to observe cellular responses. We stimulated endothelial cells using pulsed ultrasound driven by the developed system and observed the changes in intracellular calcium ion concentration. In the magnetic stimulation method study, we investigated the methodology to generate the desired magnetic force. We developed a way to calculate the magnetic field based on an inverse problem with a given distribution of the target magnetic force.
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	本研究では，超音波や磁場という生体深部へ到達可能な物理エネルギーを，従来技術と比較して高い自由度で発生させる手法を提案・開発した．これらの基盤的技術開発の成果により，低出力パルス超音波や経頭蓋磁気刺激など既存の生体刺激の可能性を広げるとともに，脳科学研究，ドラッグデリバリーなど，基礎研究から臨床応用まで幅広くバイオ・医療分野において将来的な新技術の開発に貢献することが期待される．