2021 年 13 巻 1 号 p. 1-7
A collagen vitrigel membrane (CVM) is composed of high-density collagen fibril networks, so there are plenty of interstices from a few ten to a few hundred nanometers. The CVM functions as not only a scaffold of anchorage-dependent cells but also a semipermeable membrane for exchanging chemical substances without microbial contamination. Here, I propose a novel concept for cell culture technology using two different types of the CVM-fixed frame devices for enclosing cells that can facilitate the handling of cells in culture. The ring-shaped device was prepared by glueing dried CVMs (i.e. collagen xerogel membranes, CXMs) on the both sides of a ring-shaped plastic frame with a through hole. The CXM is converted to a CVM by rehydration. HepG2 cells suspended in a culture medium was seeded into the ring-shaped device from its through hole and plugging it. The cells enclosed in the device could be cultured for a long period with excellent cell viability by merely changing its outside culture medium. Also, most of the cells were alive after preserving the device for two days in the culture medium at 25oC. The tubular screw-shaped device composed of a female screw part and a male screw part was prepared by glueing a CXM on the head of each tubular screw-shaped plastic frame and attaching three legs for self-standing on the CXM outside of female screw. The cells seeded in the female screw part were easily enclosed by fitting the male screw part. These findings suggest that the cell enclosure devices with CVMs would be useful for the non-freeze transport of ready-to-use cells and culture models in near future.
