Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : September 13, 2020 - September 16, 2020
Among human diseases, there are many muscle-related diseases such as ALS and muscular dystrophy. However, it is difficult to elucidate such diseases due to various body systems work in living organisms such as humans, animals, and plants. In order to remove the effects of complex interactions between organ periods, we focused on an in vitro experimental technique that used organoids to reproduce only specific organ functions. In this study, we have developed a device that allows time-lapse observation with an inverted microscope without removing skeletal muscle from the well plate. The mechanical approach is to quantitatively assess the deformation of the pillars due to skeletal muscle contraction from Young's modulus and the amount of deformation of the pillars. This method allows continuous experiments to be performed without removing skeletal muscle from the well plate. Biochemical studies have shown that artificial skeletal muscle continues to mature for 2 to 3 weeks after culture. The results of this experiment also showed a decrease in contractility at week 4, which is consistent with the previously reported biochemical maturation of the artificial skeletal muscle, confirming that the developed device was successful in continuously evaluating the maturity of the artificial skeletal muscle. In the future, they hope to incorporate neural organoids as a new element in the device and apply it as a neuromuscular model device.
