Spotlights

Overview of the experimental setup for ultrasonication-directed myoblast orientation.
Using a simple yet effective technique, researchers from Doshisha University could harness ultrasound vibrations generated by a piezoelectric transducer to control the orientation of cultured myoblasts. After optimizing different timing, frequency, and intensity configurations, they developed a method to induce myoblasts to differentiate into circumferentially aligned myotubes.※
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Professor Daisuke Koyama, Faculty of Science and Engineering, and his students develop ultrasound-based techniques to control myoblast (cultured muscle cell) orientation, advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Developing reliable methods to replace damaged tissue remains a central goal in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Koyama and students have created an ultrasound-based technique to control the orientation of cultured myoblasts—precursor cells to skeletal muscle. This innovative method could enable the production of aligned cell sheets suitable for direct transplantation, offering new possibilities for therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine and muscle tissue engineering.

Reference
Hashiguchi, Ryohei; Ichikawa, Hidetaka; Kumeta, Masahiro; Koyama, Daisuke. Control of myotube orientation using ultrasonication. (2024) Scientific Reports, 14 (1), art. no. 25737.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77277-x

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
Ultrasonication as a Tool for Directing Cell Growth and Orientation.

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”NEWS RELEASE 5-DEC-2024, 
[Research News] Ultrasonication as a Tool for Directing Cell Growth and Orientation.

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Credit: Daisuke Koyama from Doshisha University, Japan
License type: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Usage restriction: Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.