Japanese

Biomaterials

The original website is here.

Prof. KATO Koichi

【Research Keyword】
Biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, protein engineering, stem cell, cell-based microarray

【Recent highlights】
We constructed antibody arrays for the quality control of mesenchymal stem cells. To ensure safe and efficient transplantation, the quality of graft cells must be controlled. We developed antibody arrays using a photo-assisted micro-patterning technique. The antibody arrays enable us to simply analyze the pattern of surface markers expressed in a cell population. The binding assay of test cells on the antibody array allows rapid characterization of cells more straightforward than conventional flow cytometry. We successfully applied this analytical technique to the characterization of mesenchymal stem cells. [ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7(30):16828−36].

Profiles of Faculty and Research Scholars

【Major Papers of the Laboratory】
・Chimeric proteins consisting of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and a collagen-binding peptide: An in silico analysis, Dent. J., accepted, 2025
・Enhanced infiltration of myoblasts into collagen scaffolds loaded with engineered basic fibroblast growth factor, Dent. Mater. J., accepted, 2024
・A dilution method to increase the yield of engineered basic fibroblast growth factor, Dent. J., accepted, 2024

【Education】
The Department of Biomaterials provides lectures and practical training in fundamental and applied dental materials for undergraduate students. For students in the Couse for Frontier Dental Science and the Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, we organize advanced seminars to provide an opportunity to gain knowledge on the latest biomaterials and devices for use in regenerative medicine and dentistry.

【Research】
Stem cell-based regenerative medicine holds promise for reconstructing tissues and organs damaged by various diseases and traumatic injuries. However, widespread clinical applications of this methodology require technological advances in cell processing and transplantation. Our goal is to provide solutions for these challenges through innovative and advanced engineering approaches.
We are currently involved in the following research projects:

Methods for producing clinically-compatible stem/progenitor cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells and iPS cell-derived dental epithelial cells in large quantities.
Antibody arrays for quality control of stem cells.
Methods for constructing structurally-intricate tissues such as a periodontal tissue consisting of bone/ligament/cementum and a mandibular condyle tissue with layers of fibrous and hypertrophic articular cartilages.
Designing the macroscopic shape of tissue constructs using 3D-printed polymer scaffolds.
Engineered proteins for use as building blocks of tissue engineering scaffolds.
In vitro analytical platforms for modeling heterotypic cell-cell interactions such as epithelial- mesenchymal interactions during tooth development.