Yukiko T. Matsunaga

The drastic development of polymeric materials for a wide range of biomedical and biomaterial applications has been explored in the last few decades. Among these materials, a new class of 'smart' or 'intelligent' biomaterial has been developed, and these materials are highly responsive to slight changes in their environments. Due to their dynamically alterable properties, smart materials allow for smart biomaterials to be developed. This review presents smart thermo-responsive polymers and discu

A microfluidic system was used to prepare a large number of size-controlled collagen gel beads to form microtissue units, “cell beads”, as tissue building blocks. By stacking cell beads into a doll-shaped silicone chamber, millimeter-thick tissue with uniform cell density was formed rapidly. The bead structure allowed the application into the 3D printing, achieving automated geometrical control of the formed tissues for the fabrication of functional complex tissues. Detailed facts of importance

Angiogenesis is the formation of new capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels and participates in proper vasculature development. In pathological conditions such as cancer, abnormal angiogenesis takes place. Angiogenesis is primarily carried out by endothelial cells, the innermost layer of blood vessels. The vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) trigger most of the mechanisms activating and regulating angiogenesis, and have been the targets for the develop

Correction for 'Bottom-up fabrication of artery-mimicking tubular co-cultures in collagen-based microchannel scaffolds' by A. Tan, et al., Biomater. Sci., 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c6bm00340k.

Stimuli-responsive smart hydrogels have been exploited for various applications, including as biomaterials with environment-dependent changes in hydrophobicity, stiffness or volume. In this study, we report the functionalisation of a temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacryamide) (PNIPAAm) smart hydrogel with catechol groups to enhance its stiffness and cell attachment. To introduce biomimetic adhesive catechol group, which is derived from mussel feet, a photo-crosslinkable 3-hydroxytyramine

All human tissues experience aging that eventually causes organ dysfunction and disease. Cellular senescence was discovered in fibroblasts cultured in vitro. In adults, it is a primary defense mechanism against cancer, but also a major contributor to lifespan limits and disorders associated with aging. To assess how human blood vessels change in an aged environment, we developed an elementary tissue model-on-a-chip that comprises an in vitro three-dimensional model of a blood vessel embedded in

Angiogenesis, which refers to the formation of new blood vessels from already existing vessels, is a promising therapeutic target and a complex multistep process involving many different factors. Pericytes (PCs) are attracting attention as they are considered to make significant contributions to the maturation and stabilisation of newly formed vessels, although not much is known about the precise mechanisms involved. Since there is no single specific marker for pericytes, in vivo models may comp

Nailfold capillaroscopy is a simple and noninvasive imaging tool to visualize the pattern of capillaries. Microvascular abnormalities have been previously observed in autoimmune disease such as systemic sclerosis and diabetes. Thus, early detection of microvascular dysfunction or changes has promising way for the one of the disease preventions. In this study, for routine health checkups, we evaluated the relationship between the structure of nailfold capillaries and lifestyle habits in healthy p

The intestine acts as a center for nutrient and water absorption at the epithelium and plays an important role in immunity. Considering the complexity of its function and roles in living systems, a physiologically relevant gut in vitro model is desirable in both basic biology and the analysis of effects of some substances on functions of the gut; these analyses include the screening of drug and food candidates with regard to intestinal disorder at an early stage of medical development. In the pr

Gene therapy with CGRP-expressing mDC was effective in suppressing the development of EAON and EAE.

Here, we discuss the fabrication of biomimetic bundle-structured gel fibres using a microfluidic device and the rapid cross-linking of a phase-separated polymer blend solution. The products are potential candidates for cell culture scaffolds that mimic artificial tissues. Two naturally derived, biocompatible polysaccharide polymers are the raw materials for the bundled gel fibres, which are approximately 200-400 μm in diameter and consist of 10²-10³ aligned continuous micro

Temperature- and electric field-responsive polymer-conjugated polystyrene beads, termed smart beads, are designed to isolate cancer cells. In smart beads, the reversible "on-off" antigen-antibody reaction and dielectrophoresis force on an electrode are accomplished to realize "on-off" remote manipulation of smart beads and cancer cells. Both the zeta-potential and the hydrodynamic diameter of the smart beads are sensitive to temperature, allowing "on-off" reversible capture and release of cancer

This work describes the fabrication and characterization of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)-based biomimetic bundled gel fibres. The bundled gel fibres were reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A phase-separated aqueous solution with MWCNT and HPC was transformed into a bundled fibrous structure after being injected into a co-flow microfluidic device and applying the sheath flow. The resulting MWCNT-bundled gel fibres consist of multiple parallel microfibres. The mechanical and e