Fabrication of three-dimensional woven structural cultured cartilage with chondrocyte-enclosing alginate fiber

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K04097
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 18010:Mechanics of materials and materials-related
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: Morita Yusuke 同志社大学, 生命医科学部, 教授 (80368141)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 軟骨再生 / アルギン酸 / 細胞ファイバー / 編み構造 / 培養軟骨

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In cartilage regeneration, it is required to prepare cultured cartilage that has superior mechanical properties and enable to apply for wide defect. In this study, we developed the knitting technique to fabricate the three-dimensional mesh fabric knitted by the chondrocyte-enclosing alginate fiber. It was expected that culture medium supply was maintained through mesh structure. Chondrocytes proliferated in the alginate fibers during cultivation. Synthesis of proteoglycan and collagen were confirmed along the alginate fibers in the mesh fabric. These results showed that the developed knitting technique enabled to form mesh fabric which can maintain chondrocyte activity during long-term cultivation to obtain superior mechanical properties.

Free Research Field

機械材料・材料力学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

スキャホールドを用いずに培養軟骨の3次元組織化が試みられているが，いまだ実用的な欠損サイズへの対応は困難である．本研究では，任意の形状で形成可能な軟骨細胞/アルギン酸ファイバー3次元編み構造体の創製技術を開発した．ファイバー間を通した栄養供給の維持による編み構造体の長期培養を可能とすることで培養軟骨全層において細胞活性の低下を抑制し均一な細胞外基質の産生を実現した．また，力学特性に優れ広範囲欠損に対応可能な培養軟骨が作製できることで，軟骨疾患の再生医療分野における新たな発展が期待される．