简介: |
Abstract:
Recently, embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have shown remarkable potential to treat human diseases. Biomaterials are rapidly being developed as powerful artificial microenvironments to study and control stem-cell fate, such as proliferation and differentiation. Further the multi-disciplinary approach using cell biological and biomaterials technologies promises to have a profound impact on stem-cell biology and tissue regeneration. Over the last few years, synthetic biomaterial design has demonstrated an unquestionable potential for use as extracellular microenvironment for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. But, the complexities associated with natural material have driven the development of synthetic biomaterials for use as 2D or 3D extracellular microenvironments. Our recent advances include biomaterial-based artificial extracellular matrix formed by immobilizing cell-recognizable molecule, growth factors and cytokines. Here, we summarizes some of the most recent developments on the construction of novel extracellular matrix using chimera proteins of adhesion molecules (e.g., E-cadherin, N-cadherin, or vE-cadherin) for ES cell proliferation and differentiation.
Our novel E-cadherin-based engineered extracellular matrix showed fascinating results:
(1) Highly homogeneous differentiation of definitive endoderm cells under single-cell level; (2) Uniform distribution of growth factors resulted in controlled differentiation even in lower concentration of soluble factors; (3) completely defined and xeno-free culture due to the absence of serum and feeder layers; (4) highly functional hepatocytes within short period of differentiation; (5, 6) striking effect of matrix-dependent cell sorting for isolation and enrichment of mature hepatocytes for possible elimination of contaminated and poorly differentiated cells; (7) the unique opportunity for continuous monitoring of cellular behavior in different stages of differentiation (Haque et al., 2011, Biomaterials).
Taken together, our novel recombinant ECM is advantageous for generating homogeneous population of differentiated cells without any enzymatic stress and cell sorting, suggesting that the improved method of differentiation is highly promising for clinically significant adult cells (hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, or pancreatic cells). We established a novel biomedical field in cadherin biology named as “Cadherin Engineering” which can be applied to “Cell-cooking Plate” for ES/iPS cells in regenerative medicine.
CV：
EDUCATION: 1975 Ph.D. Synthetic Chemistry. Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan “The Stereochemistry of the Polymerization of N-Carboxy α-Amino Acid Anhydride.”
1972 M.A. Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan,
1965 B.A. Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Japan,
EXPERIENCE
Professor emeritus Professor of Donated Chair
Donated Chair of Biomaterials Design for Regenerative Engineering 2012- present
Professor, Frontier Reserch Center & Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, 2009-2012
Visiting Professor, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University , China, 2009-present
Visiting Professor, Nankai University, China, 2009-present
Visiting Professor, School of Medicine, Showa University, Japan, 2007
Professor, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Dept. of Bio- molecular Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, 1990-2009
Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan, 2000-2003
Visiting Professor, Harbin Medical University (China) 2000
Visiting Professor, T University of Paris XIII (France), 1989, 1996
Project Leader, Akaike Project “High-functional Membrane for Molecular Recognition”, Kanagawa Academy of Sci. & Tech., 1989-1995
Associate Professor, Dept of Material Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 1980-1990
Research Associate, Dept. of Surgical Science, The Heart Institute of Japan, Tokyo Women's Medical College (Presently University) Japan, 1989-1994
RESEARCH INTEREST
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Polymers (Blood-compatible
Polymers, Cell-Matrix Engineering for Liver and ES cells), Hybrid Artificial Organs (Liver, Pancreas), Cell Biology (Cytokines, Adhesion Molecules, Apoptosis, Extracellular Matrix), Hepatology (Liver Cells Pathology & Physiology), Drug, RNA, DNA and gene Delivery Systems (Polymers & Apatite Derivatives), Cell-recognizable biomaterials for ES/iPS Cells, (Proliferation and Differentiation).
ACTIVITIES
The Japanese Society of Regenerative Medicine ;Director
The Japanese Society of Tissue Engineering; Director
The Japanese Society for Biomaterials; Vice President, Director |
