On-chip hydration method for production of artificial exosomes

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20504
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0402:Nano/micro science, applied condensed matter physics, applied physics and engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Kimura Niko 九州大学, 工学研究院, 助教 (80910926)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マイクロ流体デバイス / 脂質ナノ粒子 / 細胞外小胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I demonstrated on-chip processes for producing artificial exosomes with different physical characteristics by utilizing microfluidic devices. Artificial exosomes were designed based on lipid components, contained biomolecules, and physical characteristics, such as size, stiffness, and fluidity, of extracellular vesicles secreted from mammalian cells.
In order to produce artificial exosoms containing biomolecules, I demonstrated two different on-chip methods. One was a conventional microfluidic method for simultaneous self-assembling of all lipid molecules and contents. The other was a microfludic method for sequential self-assembling of them based on their chemical characteristics.
Finally, based on the classified physical characteristics of the prepared artificial exosomes, I achieved to visualize cellular uptake preferences of nanoparticles based on natural lipids.

Free Research Field

ナノ材料工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

2018年以降、RNAなどの核酸を脂質ナノ粒子に搭載したナノ医薬品の臨床応用が急速に進んでいる。特に細胞外小胞のエクソソームに薬剤を搭載するエクソソーム創薬は、非侵襲なナノ医薬として注目されているが、高効率な薬剤導入は難しく、粒子物性は細胞からの抽出操作等で変化するため、ナノ粒子物性が生体内挙動に与える影響を統一的に評価できるエクソソーム創薬基盤の構築が求められている。
本研究で構築したマイクロ流体デバイスによる人工エクソソーム作製手法は、物理特性の視点でエクソソームの細胞内動態を理解をするための基盤技術となり得るのみならず、次世代の創薬の基盤となる統一的な評価系の構築へ貢献すると考えられる。