The research team of Tokyo University of Science assistant professor Hiroshi Endo and University of Toyama assistant professor Tadashi Nakaji has successfully cultured neural stem cells with three times more efficiency by creating a wrinkle structure with surface asperity of approximately 1 micron on the surface of rubber.
"Our research is being done copying the formation process of living organisms in the natural world. For example, the folds of the brain or colon are made of a complex structure derived from the difference in dynamic balance between the cell surface and interior. Inspired by this formation process, we imagined a way to apply this to ordinary materials."
The research team created a wrinkle structure by driving a screw of 5mm in diameter into soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber and applying plasma treatment. When central neuronal cells extracted from rats were cultured on this surface, neuronal differentiation was found to be greatly accelerated compared to on either a flat or typical culture substrate.
"The rubber is first stretched and a hard layer is created on top. When it is released, a very fine structure is spontaneously formed. We call this a 'wrinkle structure,' and using this structure we ultimately were successful in cultivating stem cells. During this process, for example, by placing small objects inside the wrinkles, or by directly using this structure, we were able to create an ultra-repellent film."
Typically the word "wrinkle" conjures up a negative image, but the research team regards these wrinkles as "happy wrinkles." The team aims to propose a simple and versatile manufacturing method for the wrinkle structure in order to apply this not only to cultivating transplant cells needed to treat Parkinson's Disease and spinal cord injuries, but also to a broad range of areas, including electronics for new biomaterials.
"We are currently using ordinary rubber, but by utilizing our principles, we think this is a highly versatile technology that can be applied to all high polymer materials."
The research team created a wrinkle structure by driving a screw of 5mm in diameter into soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber and applying plasma treatment. When central neuronal cells extracted from rats were cultured on this surface, neuronal differentiation was found to be greatly accelerated compared to on either a flat or typical culture substrate.
"The rubber is first stretched and a hard layer is created on top. When it is released, a very fine structure is spontaneously formed. We call this a 'wrinkle structure,' and using this structure we ultimately were successful in cultivating stem cells. During this process, for example, by placing small objects inside the wrinkles, or by directly using this structure, we were able to create an ultra-repellent film."
Typically the word "wrinkle" conjures up a negative image, but the research team regards these wrinkles as "happy wrinkles." The team aims to propose a simple and versatile manufacturing method for the wrinkle structure in order to apply this not only to cultivating transplant cells needed to treat Parkinson's Disease and spinal cord injuries, but also to a broad range of areas, including electronics for new biomaterials.
"We are currently using ordinary rubber, but by utilizing our principles, we think this is a highly versatile technology that can be applied to all high polymer materials."
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