New development of a plasma-charged protein solution for medical adhesives

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K19894
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 90:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (2019-2020); Tohoku University (2018)
• Principal Investigator: Yoshino Daisuke 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (80624816)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ / 沿面放電 / タンパク質 / 機能化 / 組織接着性 / 細胞接着性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research was conducted with the ultimate goal of applying the excellent cell-adhesive properties of highly charged protein solutions (plasma-charged protein solutions) using a low-temperature plasma reaction flow and developing them clinically as medical adhesives. Although we were not able to quantitatively analyze the performance of plasma-charged protein solutions as medical adhesives within the research period, we were able to clarify most of the mechanisms of cellular adhesiveness using plasma-charged protein solutions and the charging mechanism of protein solutions. In particular, we found that the surface and interfacial properties of the collagen solution change in a charge-dependent manner by plasma treatment, and that plasma treatment changes the local conformation and association state of the collagen molecules without significant changes in the global structure.

Free Research Field

メカノバイオロジー、プラズマ化学、設計工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、これまでほとんど知られていなかったプラズマと生体分子（タンパク質）との相互作用が明らかとなり、プラズマによってタンパク質の機能をコントロールすることができる可能性を見出すことができた。この結果は、本研究の最終目標であるプラズマ荷電タンパク質溶液を医療用接着剤として応用展開するのみならず、タンパク質の状態が関係する薬品開発や病気のメカニズムの解明などにも応用展開が見込める。本研究の成果が、今後様々な研究分野へ波及する上で基礎的な知見として重要な役割を担うと考える。