A patterned scaffold that can form pancreatic islet-like tissues for diabetes treatment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19926
• 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: National Institute for Materials Science
• Principal Investigator: KAWAZOE Naoki 国立研究開発法人物質・材料研究機構, 高分子・バイオ材料研究センター, 主席研究員 (90314848)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 1型糖尿病 / 膵島 / 膵β細胞 / マイクロウェル / 複合多孔質足場材料 / インスリン分泌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Despite the transplantation of pancreatic beta cells making progress in diabetic treatment, enhancement of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells remains a challenge. In the present study, gelatin-based porous microwell scaffolds were prepared for three-dimensional culture of pancreatic beta cells to promote their aggregation and insulin secretion functions. The microwell structure was fabricated on a biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) mesh by the ice particulate template method. The dimension of microwells were controlled by that of ice particulates. The microwells had a concave morphology surrounded by innumerable dense ultra-small pores. RIN-5F cells (a pancreatic beta cell line) cultured in the porous microwell scaffolds had high viability and formed botryoidal aggregates. Moreover, insulin secretion from RIN-5F cells was enhanced by culturing in the porous microwell scaffolds.

Free Research Field

生体材料学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、ゼラチン多孔質材料の外表面に形成させたマイクロウェル内に膵β細胞の集合体を形成させること、細胞集合体のインスリン分泌を促進させることに成功した。原料にゼラチンを用いることで、細胞集合体に過度の機械的ストレスを与えずに、その構造と機能を保持できると考えられる。生体内で膵島の構造と機能を保持する本質的な因子を抽出し、それらを足場材料の設計に反映させた点に本研究成果の学術的意義がある。1967年に膵島分離法と膵島移植が報告されて以来、世界中で膵島移植が行われている。将来、本マイクロウェル多孔質足場材料を用いた革新的な糖尿病治療が実現することが期待され、本研究成果の社会的意義は大きい。