Nanocomplexes for in vivo control of cellular functions

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H03834
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nanomaterials engineering
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Miyako Eijiro 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 材料・化学領域, 主任研究員 (70443231)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: ナノ材料 / ナノチューブ・フラーレン / ナノバイオ / 細胞・組織

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the last decade, there has been great progress in technologies for the remote control of organisms through physical and chemical manipulation. In particular, methods involving lasers have proven useful for the control of biological functions in living organisms through simple manipulation with laser beams. Ultraviolet, short-wavelength visible, and infrared light are generally used in optical techniques for the control of biological functions in organisms. However, these types of light do not efficiently penetrate biological tissues. It is well known that near-infrared (NIR) rays can penetrate tissues because biological systems are relatively transparent to these wavelengths of light. We have developed NIR-laser-driven nanocomplexes for remote control of cellular functions. I believe that the technologies will help to create a new state-of-the-art tool for the comprehensive analysis of "real" biological molecular information at the single-cell level.

Free Research Field

生物工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、従来のオプトジェネティクスやケージド化合物では不可能であった生体深部領域の生理活性制御が可能となるため、細胞機能のより詳細かつ厳密な分子メカニズムが解明できるようになる。このような分子メカニズムの解明は、とりわけガンのための分子標的医薬品の開発における重要な知見を与えることができる。このように本研究で提案する概念は、光による細胞機能制御研究に新境地を開き、先進医療分野において世界の科学・技術を大きくリードすることができるため学術的意義や社会的意義がある。