Improved understanding and application development of innovative organoid formation process by mechanical stress control

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19899
• 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: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Shimizu Kazunori 名古屋大学, 工学研究科, 准教授 (70402500)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 秋山 裕和 名古屋大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (60914140)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: バイオマイクロシステム / オルガノイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to control human iPS cell-derived neuromuscular organoid formation using microdevices to better understand the process and apply it to the development of innovative nonclinical testing techniques. We found that increasing cell density, decreasing well size, and adding ROCK inhibitors increased the contractility of muscle tissue. We also suggested that a neuromuscular junction exists within the neuromuscular organoids and contains Schwann cells and other cells. We attempted to further improve the efficiency of neuromuscular junction formation in order to develop a robust test method, but no significant increase was observed. In the future, it may be possible to increase neuromuscular junction formation by further enhancing myocyte maturation.

Free Research Field

バイオマイクロシステム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、骨格筋細胞や運動神経細胞、神経筋接合部に関連する疾患の解析やその治療法の開発に有用であると期待される。今後さらにオルガノイド内の骨格筋細胞の成熟度を向上させることで、堅牢な非臨床試験法となると期待される。