AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI-TuA

Invited Paper BI-TuA3
Bio-Microactuator using Cultured Cardiomyocytes

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 2:40 pm, Room 2001

Session: Cells at Surfaces
Presenter: Y. Tanaka, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Authors: Y. Tanaka, The University of Tokyo, Japan
K. Morishima, Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, Japan
T. Shimizu, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan
M. Yamato, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan
A. Kikuchi, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan
T. Okano, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan
T. Kitamori, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Correspondent: Click to Email
Integration of chemical systems onto a microchip, sometimes referred to as micro total analysis systems (µ-TAS) or labs-on-a-chip, are currently a major interest due to their desirable characteristics, including reductions in reagent consumption, space requirements and analysis times. New concepts in integrated chemistry aims to create both a new academic field and a new associated (bio)chemical industry exploiting advantages of micron dimensions. As living cellular systems often exhibit complex reaction sequences and unique reagents, harnessing cell-based reactions by incorporating cells into µ-TAS systems is now frequently reported. However, to date, only cellular biochemical functions have been used to enhance microchip functions. Here, we have utilized cellular mechanical functions to produce more efficient biochemical processes. Our concept utilizes cardiomyocytes as microactuators, using the cellâ?Ts endogenous ability to transform chemical energy into mechanical energy. To demonstrate the concept of the cardiomyocyte bio-microactuator, we firstly actuated micropillars made of flexible polymer using cardiomyocytes.@footnote 1@ Then, we created a pump on-chip using a cardiomyocyte sheet@footnote 2@ as a prototype bio-microactuator.@footnote 3@. Our demonstrated pump could be used as a drug-delivery implant device responding body conditions. Also, that could be applied as a sophisticated in vitro micro model for research of circulatory system for revealing the mechanism of the circulatory illnesses. We anticipate our demonstrated device to be applied in various fields especially for medical usages. @FootnoteText@ @footnote 1@Y. Tanaka, K. Morishima, T. Shimizu, A. Kikuchi, M. Yamato, T. Okano, T. Kitamori, Lab Chip (2006) 6, 230 - 235. @footnote 2@T. Shimizu, M. Yamato, Y. Isoi, T. Akutsu, T. Setomaru, K. Abe, A. Kikuchi, M. Umezu, T. Okano, Circ. Res. (2002) 90, e40-e48. @footnote 3@Y. Tanaka, K. Morishima, T. Shimizu, A. Kikuchi, M. Yamato, T. Okano, T. Kitamori, Lab Chip (2006) 6, 362 - 368.