Construction of dynamical artificial-cell like systems with energy metabolism and molecular communication

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26540150
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Life / Health / Medical informatics
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Takinoue Masahiro 東京工業大学, 総合理工学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (20511249)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Morita Masamune 日本学術振興会, 特別研究員 (90708504)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 人工細胞モデル / マイクロ・ナノデバイス / 非平衡 / 非線形 / マイクロフルイディクス / エマルション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed microfluidic control systems for generation of liposomes (artificial cell-membrane vesicles), control of chemical reactions in artificial cell-like vesicles, and molecular interaction between artificial cell-like vesicles. In the study of the generation of liposomes, we developed a centrifugal capillary-based microfluidic device. We demonstrated that the centrifugal capillary-based microfluidic device could generate cell-sized monodisperse liposomes. In the study of the control of chemical reactions, we demonstrated a chemical rhythm reaction could be controlled based on computer-aided fusion and fission of microdroplet-based artificial cell-like vesicles. By extending this method, we demonstrated the interaction between microdroplet-based artificial cell-like vesicles.

Free Research Field

生物物理学，マイクロ流体工学，分子ロボティクス