Specially Appointed Faculty
Laboratory name
Specially Appointed Associate Professor Okamoto Laboratory   
Laboratory staff
Masami Okamoto （Specially Appointed Associate Professor） 　
Laboratory title
再生医療・生体組織工学を支える材料開発
Laboratory overview
生体組織工学や癌研究のための薬理の解明でも重要である新規バイオマテリアルを開拓している。
Main research themes
・幹細胞を用いたバイオコンボジットの創成
・高分子細胞培養足場によるがん幹細胞の発生起源
Individual research theme

  • Cancer stem cell characteristics of breast cancer cells incubated on viscoelastic polymeric gel scaffolds

    岡本　正巳

    2017

    　More details

    Outcome：

    2022
    Acrylamide copolymer-based gel substrates with different viscoelasticity were employed to evaluate the viscoelasticity effect on the direct relation among cancer stemness and mesenchymal properties with induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells in both normoxia and hypoxia. The softer gel substrate produced a large amount of surface molecule of cancer stem cells (CSC) marker CD44. In contrast, for the stem cell biomarker CD133 expression, their coefficient of damping (tan)-dependent manner was not contributed by EMT phenomenon and was an independent from acquisition of the EMT. The substrate damping as potential physical parameter emerged the important linkage to cancer stemness and EMT induction.
    Research results are published in papers,
    “Linkage between stemness and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of breast cancer cells incubated on viscoelastic gel substrates” Current Advances in Cancer Sci. 1, 2 (2022).
    “Stemness of breast cancer cells incubated on viscoelastic gel substrates” Int Phys Med Rehab J 7(3), 136-137 (2022).

  • Cytotoxicity and potential application for regenerative medicineof of natural rubber latex particles

    岡本　正巳

    2017

    　More details

    Outcome：

    2022
    We have successfully fabricated the cartilage/natural rubber latex (NRL) biocomposites via human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) spheroid under hypoxic condition. It was revealed that NRL nanoparticles acted as the main component, providing surface heterogeneity for the spheroids and resulting in a mechanically stable structure with a modulus two times higher compared to controls. The formation of the cartilage/NRL nanoparticles biocomposite results in having a stiff property was demonstrated. The gene expression levels of SRY-box 9 (SOX9), aggrecan and type II collagen (Col-II), and formation of glycosaminoglycans were higher in spheroids under hypoxic conditions, and administration of NRL nanoparticles enhanced chondrogenic differentiation is successfully induced. The promise of NRL nanoparticles for well-controlled chondrogenic differentiation and mechanically stable cartilage tissue was demonstrated.
    The research results were published in a paper.
    “Biocomposites composed of cartilage and natural rubber latex” Int Phys Med Rehab J 8(1), 40-41 (2023).