Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025
09:47
FRET Imaging in Three-dimensional Hydrogels
Published on: August 1, 2016
13.2K
Three-Dimensional Cell Drawing Technique in Hydrogel Using Micro Injection System
Takuya Shinagawa1, Shogo Miyata2
1Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan.
Micromachines
|November 11, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a 3D cell drawing method using hydrogels to create neuronal cell networks. This technique enables precise patterning of cells for studying physiological neuronal functions and advancing drug screening.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Tissue Engineering
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Fabricating three-dimensional (3D) tissues with living cells is crucial for drug screening and in vitro disease modeling.
- Studying physiological neuronal function necessitates 3D cell patterning and the construction of neuronal networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a novel 3D cell drawing methodology within a hydrogel for constructing 3D neuronal cell networks.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a micro-injector with 3D position control to dispense PC-12 cells (neuronal differentiation model) into atelocollagen hydrogel.
- Maintained atelocollagen at a sol-gel transition state during cell dispensing to ensure precise 3D cell positioning.
- Patterned PC-12 cells into defined structures within the hydrogel.
Main Results:
- Successfully patterned PC-12 cells in atelocollagen gel, forming square patterns at varying depths.
- Observed neurite elongation and the formation of a continuous cellular network within the patterned cellular lines.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of creating 3D cellular structures with controlled cell placement.
Conclusions:
- The developed 3D cell drawing technology shows potential for reconstructing complex 3D neuronal networks.
- This technique can be applied to investigate physiological neuronal functions and advance in vitro models.
