Development of a photo-switch-responsive cell scaffold to regulate cell differentiation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20514
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0403:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Yokohama National University
• Principal Investigator: Miyajima Hiroki 横浜国立大学, 大学院工学研究院, 特任教員(助教) (80905589)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞足場 / ハイドロゲル / 幹細胞 / 細胞分化 / 光制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For development of functional materials to control cell differentiation, functionalized hydrogels in response to light stimuli were prepared and the obtained hydrogels were applied as scaffold for cell culture. A photo-responsive compound that structurally change by light irradiation was applied as a photo-switch, and an osteogenesis-inducing factor and the photo-switch were introduced into polymer to prepare photo-responsive hydrogels. By light irradiation of the prepared hydrogels, the release of the osteogenesis-inducing factor from the hydrogels after light irradiation was confirmed. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured on the hydrogel with the photo-switch and osteogenesis-inducing factor, and osteogenesis of MSCs on the hydrogel was demonstrated by light irradiation.

Free Research Field

生体関連化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞分化の制御は、細胞機能解析や組織再生など再生医療における基礎から応用まで幅広い領域への貢献が期待できる。本研究で実証した細胞分化を制御するための技術は、刺激応答性ハイドロゲルを細胞足場として応用したものであり、細胞足場として応用する分子や材料の設計を基軸として工学的な研究領域から細胞工学や再生医療分野の研究発展に貢献するための研究開発指針を示すものである。