Yokohama National University, Faculty of Engineering
(Bio Microsystem lab)

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Electrochemical Cell Detachment and Its Application for Engineering Tissue Constructs with Capillary Structure

 Although simple tissue constructs such as skin, cartilage, and cornea have already been used in clinical applications, engineering more complex, multicellular, and vascularized tissues is required for the treatment of other important tissues and organs. In this study, we present a novel method that uses an electrochemical reaction to construct a capillary-like structure whose internal surface is covered with endothelial cells. In our method, we use the synthetic oligopeptide, CCRRGDWLC, which contains a cell adhesion domain (RGD) in the center region and cysteine residues at both ends (Fig. 1). Cysteine has a thiol group that chemically adsorbs onto a gold surface by means of a gold-thiolate bond. Cells attached on a gold surface via the oligopeptide were readily and noninvasively detached along with a cleavage of the gold-thiolate bond by applying a potential of ?E.0 V. This approach can be used to detach two-dimensionally connected cell sheets, which is further applicable not only on a flat surface but also on a thin wire. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells are attached to the surface of a gold wire (diameter: 600 μm) and grown to reach confluence. The wire with cells is inserted into a collagen solution. After the gelation of the collagen, the wire is extracted by applying a potential of ?E.0 V, resulting in the formation of a capillary covered with the cells in the collagen gel.


[Reference]
Y. Seto, R. Inaba, T. Okuyama, F. Sassa, H. Suzuki, J. Fukuda*, Engineering of capillary-like structures in tissue constructs by electrochemical detachment of cells, Biomaterials (IF=7.88), 31, pp.2209-15 (2010)

 

 

 

● Vascular
● Liver
● Hair
● Pacnreas
● Bone
● Lab Chip/ MEMS
● Surface modification
● Microbe
 
 
 
 

 
Fukuda Lab, Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University