Circulating traveling wave enhances the maturation of cardiomyocytes in self-organized tissue

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K14624
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Intelligent mechanics/Mechanical systems
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: LI Junjun 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 特任研究員(常勤) (10723786)
• Research Collaborator: Liu Li (50380093) ; Minami Itsunari (40362537)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: pluripotent stem cells / cardiomyocytes / maturation / tissue engineering

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cardiomyocytes derived from human iPSCs are expected to be applied not only to transplantation but also to drug discovery. However, since the cardiomyocytes obtained by the existing differentiation induction method are still immature, they are not sufficiently satisfied for the application of drug evaluation. In this research project, we aim to develop an accelerated maturation method of novel pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes without using physical stimulation from outside. The applicant discovered the closed loop and the phenomenon that action potential propagates to acceleration by the developed device. The ohenomenon was named travling wave. Furthermore, with the training by travling wave, we aim to develop an accelerated cardiomyocyte maturation method based on the spontaneous and circulating progressive waves safely, simply and stably, that is, the development of a pluripotent stem cell-derived myocardial permanent machine.

Free Research Field

tissue engineering

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This technology could be a promising substitution for harmful electrical stimulation method. It can be expected that this new technology, could be of great usefulness and importance for both researchers and industrial/clinical users in the fields of drug screening and heart regeneration.