Development of a drug assessment method based on the function of human cerebral organoids

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04507
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90110:Biomedical engineering-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Ikuro 東北工業大学, 大学院工学研究科, 教授 (90516311)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ヒト脳オルガノイド / MEA / 低周波成分解析 / 神経伝達物質 / 同時計測 / 細胞外電位計測 / 電気化学計測 / 創薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In microelectrode array (MEA) measurements of human brain organoids, we showed that electrical activity characteristics and compound responses are more pronounced in the low-frequency component below 500 Hz, rather than in the conventional spike component. Frequency characteristics reflecting in vivo and contraindicated drug responses were also detected in diseased brain organoids. Furthermore, the development of carbon nanotube MEAs and an MEA system capable of simultaneous electrochemical measurements enabled real-time detection of glutamate release and extracellular potentials.

Free Research Field

神経医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

動物実験代替とヒトへの外挿性を有するヒト脳オルガノイドの機能評価法を開発し、疾患脳オルガノイドの電気活動特性および禁忌薬の応答を見出した成果は、今後の創薬開発に大きく貢献する成果である。神経伝達物質の放出と細胞外電位の同時計測法は、神経応答のメカニズムにアプローチできる新規計測法であり、学術的意義は高く、医薬品をはじめとする化合物評価において実用化が期待される。