Deterministic Massively Parallel Single Cell Processing: Towards Innovation in Bio-3D Printing

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20961
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 18:Mechanics of materials, production engineering, design engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Toyohashi University of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nagai Moeto 豊橋技術科学大学, エレクトロニクス先端融合研究所, 教授 (00580557)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 沼野 利佳 豊橋技術科学大学, エレクトロニクス先端融合研究所, 教授 (30462716)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 超並列単一細胞操作 / 決定論的加工 / 光硬化 / ペリスタポンプ / 外骨格 / バイオインク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to innovate bio 3D printing by creating "deterministic massively parallel single-cell processing technology". We developed a new pipette array equipped with a peristaltic pump and a separate chamber for encapsulation. This structure was fabricated by multi-layer soft lithography. Holes, cell channels, and pneumatic valves were integrated. The pipette was equipped with an exoskeleton and a 3-axis linear stage and fixed with a jig. The pipette was moved to the solution for dispensing, thus stabilizing the experiment. Capture and dispensing performance was also influenced by surface tension and substrate-substrate interaction. We established a technique for printing cells in bioink as a cell positioning technique. Cells grew in the bioink, and cells degraded the gel, maintaining high viability for as long as one week.

Free Research Field

バイオマイクロシステム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生体外で緻密な多細胞組織を超並列で10の6乗個形成できれば，十分な細胞間相互作用により生体内の状態を再現し，腫瘍や臓器の生命現象を効率的に調査できる。従来のバイオ3Dプリンティングの配置では，トレードオフが存在しており，高い並列処理数と細胞個数の制御性は両立できなかった。本研究では，申請者の有する細胞操作技術，微細加工技術をベースに，構造を知能化・2Dア レイ化するアイデアを活用し，この配置原理を刷新することに成功した。