3Dプリンターを用いたマウス筋芽細胞の配向制御デバイスの開発

抄録

When culturing cells in the lab, they are typically grown in two-dimensional environments on the surfaces of culture vessels. This allows for the assessment of various biological functions, such as drug effects and side effects. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) culture techniques have gained attention for their ability to more closely mimic physiological conditions. This method involves embedding cells in a gel-like solution to create a 3D scaffold, promoting the growth of cells in three dimensions. Such 3D tissues have promising applications in various fields. In engineering, for instance, 3D-printed skeletal muscle actuators are being developed to replace electric motors by enabling muscle cells to acquire contraction abilities. In medicine, 3D muscle cell models are used to study muscle diseases like muscular dystrophy, assessing cell contraction abilities and the impact of drugs on cell function. Typically, skeletal muscle cells are differentiated into contracting muscle fibers after 3D culturing, but achieving unidirectional contraction akin to native skeletal muscle requires techniques to orient muscle cells in one direction. This study developed an orientation control device using a biocompatible resin 3D printer, creating a 3D device with slit-like gaps in various directions. By culturing cells in collagen gel within these slits, the device inhibited growth in the short-axis direction and promoted alignment along the slit’s long axis. Orientation was evaluated by measuring the angle of alignment relative to the long axis, showing that over half of the cells aligned parallel to the device.