User interviews《Cyfuse Biomedical K.K》Enhancing operating efficiency in the CPC (Cell Processing Center) realizes a more comfortable environment for both people and cells.
“Time-lapse imaging was employed to evaluate indicators for 3D tissue/organ manufacturing, linking the process to results.”

“By using a Bio 3D Printer equipped with original technologies, we are aiming to develop 3D tissue/organ products that may become a new treatment method that restores the original function of the body through creating such products then transplanting them into patients. What makes our products differ greatly from conventional regenerative medicine products is that they are produced from cells only, without using any artificial materials.”

“Until now, there have been hybrid composites of cultured cells with scaffolds made of chemicals or animal-derived biomaterials. However, there are various concerns about using animal-derived substances, such as the fact that they can cause inflammation due to allergic responses and infections due to virus contamination after transplantation.
On the other hand, our 3D tissue/organ products made only from cells generally have a low risk of infection. Also, since they have the same thickness and elasticity as the original tissue, they can be sewn with thread. Therefore, they can be utilized in actual transplant surgeries. We are currently conducting several clinical trials with our collaborators.”

“Yes, we’re using the patients’ own cells. Although cell types differ depending on the tissue being produced, we are utilizing types such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and fibroblasts. From a technical perspective, since we can use human iPS cells for material, we are also developing products utilizing other people’s cells or iPS cells as part of our next-generation pipeline.”

“By placing BioStudio-T inside the incubator, we are able to monitor the condition of cultured cells from outside the CPC, and therefore we only need to enter when it is essential. This allows us to create a work environment that is easier on both the staff and the cells.”

“It’s very helpful because we can observe cells via a monitor while culturing them in culture vessels and can also capture time-lapse images.”

“Yes. But not only that, it’s also because it can capture tiled images, the entire culture vessel can be observed, and differences are obvious when comparing the time-lapse images. It’s extremely helpful in determining culture conditions.

“That’s right. The most important thing in the production of tissues and organs that can be used in clinical application is that the hundreds of millions of cells that constitute them need to be of high quality and uniformity. To achieve this, during the final process, we need to observe the state of cells at a given location periodically and quantify characteristics such as cell shape and movement at each stage of the culture process – relating that data to the resulting culture characteristics.
Previously, someone had to be present in the experimental facility for routine observations, and there are some cases where researchers were unable to leave the microscope for over 20 hours.”

“Yes, that’s so. When culturing cells, we check their shape and growth, and even that they are not contaminated by bacteria. Currently, these observations are performed by human eyes, so maintaining the training of these workers at the level required is a huge challenge. I think that if image analysis tools such as NIS-Elementsare introduced in the future, maintaining quality will be further simplified.”

“Eventually, we would like to expand the processes that can be completed by machines and add more functions, so that manufacturing can proceed with as little human intervention as possible. However, in reality, there are still many challenges, and steadily dealing with the issues right before us is the highest priority. For the future, we dream about how great it would be to be able to produce tissues and organs like a food production line.”

“In the future, we should first and foremost strive to reliably provide organs produced through our technology to patients. We also hope that we can engage in development that allows us to produce all of the organs within the human body, and then provide the necessary organs required for each different medical department. With the help of our partner companies and the medical personnel at clinical sites, we would like to develop as many regenerative medicine products as possible so that they will be one of the new treatment options.”