Device for detecting cell characteristic and cell characteristic detection set

Abstract

A device 10 for detecting a cell characteristic comprises a base plate 20 and a pair of support bodies 30 that are made from a resin and are provided suspended from the base plate 20 in an elastically deformable manner. During a condition in which a cell aggregate 15 is retained between the pair of support bodies 30 by the pair of support bodies 30, the displacement quantity ΔW of the support bodies 30 can be detected from the outside.

Description

Cell characteristic detection device and cell characteristic detection set

[0001] The present invention relates to a cell characteristic detection device and a cell characteristic detection set.

[0002] There are known cell characteristic detection devices for detecting cell characteristics. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a cell characteristic detection device that can detect the contractile characteristics of muscle cells held on a support body made mainly of collagen having an elongated portion using a strain gauge connected to a connector provided at one end of the elongated portion.

[0003] JP 2011-030574 A

[0004] In the cell characteristic detection device of Patent Document 1, the support that holds the cells is mainly made of collagen, and the entire support is used while immersed in a liquid containing the compound, which has the problem of making it prone to non-specific adsorption of the compound.

[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to realize a device for detecting cell characteristics that is less susceptible to nonspecific adsorption of compounds.

[0006] The cell characteristic detection device of the present invention comprises a substrate and a pair of resin supports suspended from the substrate in an elastically deformable manner, and is characterized in that the amount of displacement of the supports can be detected externally while a cell aggregate is held between the pair of supports.

[0007] With this configuration, it is possible to immerse only the tip side portion of the suspended support of the cell characteristic detection device in liquid, and since the support is made of resin, non-specific adsorption of compounds is less likely to occur in terms of both contact area and material.

[0008] A cell characteristic detection set according to the present invention comprises the cell characteristic detection device described above and a container, the inner surface of which has been treated to inhibit non-specific cell adsorption.

[0009] According to this configuration, a container is used whose inner surface has been treated to inhibit non-specific adsorption of cells, thereby ensuring the adsorption of cell aggregates to the cell characteristic detection device while making it difficult for cells to non-specifically adsorb to the container.

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described below.

[0011] In one aspect of the cell characteristic detection device, the pair of supports is preferably a pair of film bodies arranged opposite each other.

[0012] According to this configuration, the resolution for measuring the amount of displacement and the maximum amount of displacement to be measured can be easily changed by changing the thickness of the pair of film bodies.

[0013] In one aspect of the cell characteristic detection device, the pair of film bodies are preferably made of a resin material having a Young's modulus of 100 MPa or more and 4500 MPa or less, and have a thickness of 5 μm or more and 400 μm or less.

[0014] According to this configuration, the resolution of the displacement measurement and the maximum measurable displacement can be set to more appropriate values.

[0015] In one aspect of the above-mentioned cell characteristic detection device, it is preferable that the pair of supports have a support main body portion extending downward from the substrate and a bent end portion formed by bending the lower end portion of the support main body portion.

[0016] This configuration allows the bent end portion to stably hold the cell aggregate.

[0017] In one aspect of the above-mentioned cell characteristic detection device, the pair of supports are preferably made of a polystyrene-based resin, a polypropylene-based resin, or a polyethylene-based resin.

[0018] This configuration makes it more difficult for compounds to be non-specifically adsorbed to the cell characteristic detection device.

[0019] In one aspect of the above-described cell characteristic detection device, the cell aggregate is preferably a skeletal muscle cell aggregate, a cardiac muscle cell aggregate, or a smooth muscle cell aggregate.

[0020] According to this configuration, by using a cell characteristic detection device that is less susceptible to nonspecific adsorption of compounds, it is possible to more accurately detect the muscle contraction characteristics of skeletal muscle cell aggregates, cardiac muscle cell aggregates, or smooth muscle cell aggregates.

[0021] In one aspect of the above-mentioned cell characteristic detection device, it is preferable that a contact body be provided in the substrate side area between the pair of supports, which can contact the pair of supports from the inside when the cell aggregate contracts.

[0022] According to this configuration, the pair of supports that deform due to the contraction of the cell aggregates come into contact with the abutment body, and the abutment body acts as a resistance against the contracting cell aggregates. As a result, the cell characteristic detection device allows the cell aggregates to grow strongly.

[0023] In one aspect of the cell characteristic detection device, it is preferable that the plurality of contact bodies, each having a different length from the substrate, are detachably provided on the substrate.

[0024] According to this configuration, the resistance of the contact body against the contracting cell aggregate varies depending on the length of the contact body, so that resistance suited to the culture conditions of the cell aggregate is applied to the contracting cell aggregate.

[0025] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, which is given with reference to the drawings.

[0026] A perspective view of a cell characteristic detection device of the cell characteristic detection set of the first embodiment. A perspective view of a container of the cell characteristic detection set of the first embodiment. A schematic diagram of the cell characteristic detection set and cell aggregate of the first embodiment. A perspective view of a support of the second embodiment. A cross-sectional view of the cell characteristic detection set of the third embodiment, in which a contact body is attached to a substrate. A cross-sectional view of the cell characteristic detection set of the third embodiment, in which a contact body longer in length from the substrate than the contact body shown in Figure 5 is attached to the substrate. A perspective view of a support of other embodiments.

[0027] 1. First Embodiment A cell characteristic detection set 100 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The cell characteristic detection set 100 includes a cell characteristic detection device 10 and a container 50. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cell characteristic detection device 10, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container 50, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the cell characteristic detection set 100 and a cell aggregate 15. The cell characteristic detection device 10, which detects cell characteristics, specifically the characteristics of a cell aggregate 15, includes a substrate 20 and a pair of resin supports 30 that are elastically deformable and suspended from the substrate 20. The cell characteristic detection device 10 is capable of externally detecting the displacement of the supports 30, for example, the displacement ΔW shown in FIG. 3, while holding the cell aggregate 15 between the pair of supports 30. Note that a cell aggregate refers to a mass of cells formed by the aggregation of multiple cells.

[0028] In this embodiment, the substrate 20 is a rectangular resin plate, and four rectangular through holes 22 are arranged in a longitudinal direction, penetrating the substrate 20 in the thickness direction. A bottom plate portion 24 is provided on each of the longitudinal sides of the through holes 22 of the substrate 20, extending toward the center of the through holes 22 and supported in a cantilevered manner. The bottom plate portion 24 has a support 30 suspended downward. As shown in FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the supports 30 suspended from the bottom plate portion 24 on both sides of one through hole 22 are paired. Furthermore, in this embodiment, four pairs of supports 30 are provided. Here, "suspended" means suspended. In the example of FIG. 1 , the pair of supports 30 are suspended vertically, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the supports 30 may be tilted at an angle of ±10 to ±20 degrees relative to the vertical.

[0029] The support bodies 30 may be integral with the substrate 20 or may be detachably provided on the bottom plate portion 24 of the substrate 20. Here, the direction in which the pair of support bodies 30 are aligned as shown in FIG. 3 is defined as direction X1. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the substrate 20 is the same as direction X1. The pair of support bodies 30 are preferably made of polystyrene-based resin, polypropylene-based resin, or polyethylene-based resin.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2 , the container 50 is provided with a recess 52 for holding a liquid 55. The container 50 in this embodiment is a mold container made of plastic, metal, glass, or the like. A mold container is a container for holding cell aggregates 15 in a device, and is a container for aggregating cells to form the shape of the aggregate. The container 50 is provided with a plurality of recesses 52. The number of recesses 52 is preferably a multiple of the number of pairs of supports 30 per cell characteristic detection device 10 (four in this example), and eight recesses 52 are provided in this embodiment. In this case, two cell characteristic detection devices 10 are attached to one container 50.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the detection of the displacement amount ΔW of the support 30, i.e., the measurement of the displacement amount of the cell aggregate 15. In FIG. 3, the cell aggregate 15 and the support 30 in a state in which the tip side is bent due to the contraction of the cell aggregate 15 are indicated by a two-dot chain line. The cell aggregate 15 is, for example, a skeletal muscle cell aggregate, a cardiac muscle cell aggregate, or a smooth muscle cell aggregate produced by inducing differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells. Preferably, the cell characteristic detection device 10 is also used for culturing the cell aggregate 15. More preferably, the cell characteristic detection device 10 is also used for inducing differentiation and maturation of the cell aggregate 15. For example, a cell aggregate 15 before differentiation induction is attached to each tip of a pair of supports 30 of the cell characteristic detection device 10. Next, the tips of the pair of supports 30 and the cell aggregate 15 before differentiation induction can be immersed in a liquid medium in a culture vessel not shown, and the cell aggregate 15 can be bridgingly bridged between the pair of supports 30 while inducing differentiation, thereby retaining the desired cell aggregate 15, for example, a cardiomyocyte aggregate, between the pair of supports 30.

[0032] In this embodiment, the pair of supports 30 are a pair of film bodies arranged opposite each other. As shown in FIG. 3 , the pair of supports 30, which are film bodies, each have a thin-film shape having a width B1, a thickness H1, and a length L1 from the bottom plate portion 24 to the tip. The pair of supports 30 are suspended from the substrate 20 so that their thickness direction is the same as the direction X1. The tip sides (lower end sides) of the pair of supports 30 are elastically deformable in the direction X1 connecting the pair of supports 30 by bending in the thickness direction. As a result, when the cell aggregate 15 held by the pair of supports 30 contracts, both tips of the pair of supports 30 elastically deform in a direction approaching each other, i.e., in the direction X1. If the displacement of one support 30 in this direction X1 is ΔW, the displacement of the cell aggregate 15 in the direction X1 is twice ΔW.

[0033] If the maximum displacement that the support 30 can elastically deform is the maximum measurable displacement ΔWmax, the maximum measurable displacement ΔWmax and the resolution can be changed by changing the thickness H1 without changing the measuring device for detecting the displacement ΔW, the resin material of the support 30, or the length L1 or width B1 of the support 30. The pair of support bodies 30, which are film bodies, are preferably made of a resin material having a Young's modulus E of 100 MPa or more and 4500 MPa or less. Also preferably, they are made of a resin material having a Young's modulus E of 300 MPa or more and 4300 MPa or less. Even more preferably, they are made of a resin material having a Young's modulus E of 400 MPa or more and 4000 MPa or less. Furthermore, the pair of support bodies 30 preferably have a thickness H1 of 5 μm or more and 400 μm or less. Also preferably, they have a thickness H1 of 7 μm or more and 200 μm or less. Even more preferably, they have a thickness H1 of 8 μm or more and 100 μm or less. Note that the Young's modulus E in this specification is a value measured at 25°C (room temperature).

[0034] When the pair of supports 30, which are film bodies, are made of a polystyrene-based resin, the Young's modulus E is preferably 3000 MPa or more and 4000 MPa or less, and the thickness H1 is preferably 40 μm or more and 55 μm or less. When the pair of supports 30, which are film bodies, are made of a polypropylene-based resin, the Young's modulus E is preferably 1500 MPa or more and 2500 MPa or less, and the thickness H1 is preferably 50 μm or more and 65 μm or less. As specific examples of the pair of supports 30, which are film bodies, the Young's modulus E, the measured maximum displacement ΔWmax, the length L1, the width B1, and the thickness H1 of Example 1, which is a support 30 made of polystyrene, and Example 2, which is a support 30 made of polypropylene, are shown in Table 1.

[0035] The resolution can also be changed by changing the measuring instrument for detecting the displacement amount ΔW. In the cell characteristic detection set 100 of this embodiment, the container 50 is transparent or translucent, and an optical microscope 60 capable of measuring the displacement amount ΔW of the support 30 is provided below the container 50. The optical microscope 60 corresponds to the measuring instrument for detecting the displacement amount ΔW. A transparent or translucent liquid 55 is placed in the container 50. Preferably, a light source is provided above the container 50. The liquid 55 is, for example, a liquid containing a low-molecular-weight compound. By measuring the displacement amount ΔW of the support 30 and obtaining it as tension information, it is possible to evaluate the effect (toxicity) of a compound on cardiomyocyte aggregates, evaluate the efficacy of a compound on a disease model of cardiomyocyte aggregates, and search for an optimal compound for inducing differentiation into cardiomyocyte aggregates.

[0036] Returning to Figure 2, the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 in the container 50 has been subjected to a treatment for inhibiting nonspecific cell adsorption. This treatment for inhibiting nonspecific cell adsorption is a treatment for inhibiting nonspecific cell adsorption. The treatment for inhibiting nonspecific cell adsorption can be carried out, for example, by a hydrophilization treatment. More specifically, the treatment for inhibiting nonspecific cell adsorption can be carried out by a treatment for making the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 contain at least one group selected from the group consisting of groups represented by the following formulas (1), (2), (3), and (4):

[0037]

[0038] Here, in formula (1), R １２ is NH or an oxygen atom. m is an integer of 0 to 4. R １３ is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or a methoxy group. ３２ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and n is an integer of 2 to 100.

[0039] Furthermore, the treatment for inhibiting nonspecific adsorption of cells can be performed by forming a coating layer mainly made of a polymer containing a specific hydrophilic structural unit on the recess 52. Here, the hydrophilic structural unit in the polymer that is the main component of the coating layer can include at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of structural units represented by the following formulas (5), (6), (7), and (8).

[0040]

[0041] Here, * represents a bond. In formula (5), R １１ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. １２ is NH or an oxygen atom. m is an integer of 0 to 4. R １３ is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or a methoxy group. ２１ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. ３１ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. ３２ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and n is an integer of 2 to 100.

[0042] As an example, for the constitutional unit represented by formula (5), R １１ When R is a hydrogen atom, an example of a monomer that can be used as a raw material for the hydrophilic structural unit is N-(2-hydroxyethyl)acrylamide (HEAA). １１ When is a methyl group, an example of a monomer that can be used as a raw material for the hydrophilic structural unit is 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA).

[0043] The hydrophilic structural unit in the polymer that forms the main part of the coating layer may contain a structural unit represented by the following formula (9).

[0044]

[0045] Here, * represents a bond. In formula (9), R ４１ is an alkyl group having a carbonyl group and an amino group. p is an integer of 1 to 1000. q is an integer of 40 to 4995. r is an integer of 0 to 4000. s is an integer of 1 to 3.

[0046] The polymer that forms the main component of the coating layer may further contain a hydrophobic structural unit. In this case, the hydrophobic structural unit may include at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of structural units represented by the following formulas (10) and (11):

[0047]

[0048] Here, * represents a bond. In formula (10), R ５１ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. ５２ is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alicyclic alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, or a combination thereof. ６１ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

[0049] Examples of linear or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms include methyl, ethyl, propyl, methylethyl, butyl, 1,2-dimethylethyl, pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, and hexyl groups. Examples of alicyclic alkyl groups having 3 to 8 carbon atoms include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl groups.

[0050] The total content of hydrophilic structural units in the polymer that constitutes the main part of the coating layer is preferably 10 mol% or more. The total content of hydrophilic structural units is preferably 20 mol% or more and 80 mol% or less, and more preferably 30 mol% or more and 70 mol% or less. Furthermore, the total content of hydrophobic structural units in the polymer is preferably 90 mol% or less. The total content of hydrophobic structural units is preferably 40 mol% or more and 80 mol% or less, and more preferably 50 mol% or more and 70 mol% or less.

[0051] The polymer that constitutes the main component of the coating layer may further contain a crosslinkable structural unit in addition to the hydrophilic structural unit and hydrophobic structural unit described above. The content of the crosslinkable structural unit may be, for example, from 0.05 mol % to 20 mol %, and preferably from 0.5 mol % to 10 mol %.

[0052] By providing such a coating layer, the contact angle of the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 with pure water at 25°C (room temperature) is set to 3° or more and 90° or less. By making the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 hydrophilic, nonspecific adsorption of compounds to the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 can be suppressed. Setting the contact angle to less than 3° may be undesirable from a cost perspective, as the processing required for this becomes extensive. On the other hand, if the contact angle is excessively large, exceeding 90°, the hydrophilicity may decrease, potentially reducing the ability to suppress nonspecific adsorption of compounds. Setting the contact angle to 3° or more and 90° or less allows for the suppression of nonspecific adsorption of compounds to the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 at relatively low cost.

[0053] The contact angle of the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 with pure water is preferably 5° or more, and more preferably 8° or more. The contact angle of the inner surface 52a of the recess 52 with pure water is preferably 80° or less, and more preferably 70° or less.

[0054] 2. Second Embodiment The following describes a support 30 according to a second embodiment with reference to FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the shape of the support 30 differs from that of the first embodiment. The following description focuses on the differences from the first embodiment. Note that the aspects not specifically described are the same as those of the first embodiment. The pair of supports 30 each have a support body portion 32 extending downward from the substrate 20 and a bent end portion 34 formed by bending the lower end portion of the support body portion 32. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a recess 36 is provided in the support body portion 32. By providing this recess 36, the cell aggregates 15 held by the pair of supports 30 can be aggregated as a whole. Therefore, the thickness of the cell aggregates 15 near the recess 36 increases, making it less likely for stress to concentrate on a portion of the cell aggregates 15 when the cell aggregates 15 pulsate. As a result, the cell aggregates 15 are less likely to be damaged. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the pair of supports 30 are a pair of film bodies arranged opposite each other, and the bent ends 34 are formed by bending the lower ends of the support body portion 32, which is a film body. The support body portion 32 has recesses 36 on both widthwise sides. By placing the cell aggregate 15 on the bent ends 34, the cell aggregate 15 can be stably held by the pair of bent ends 34 of the pair of supports 30. The pair of bent ends 34 may be formed by bending the lower ends of the support body portion 32 in directions away from each other, or in directions toward each other. Preferably, by placing the cell aggregate 15 on the pair of bent ends 34 and culturing it, the cell aggregate 15 after culturing is in a state where it wraps around the pair of bent ends 34. This enables the cell aggregate 15 to be held more stably.

[0055] 3. Third Embodiment A cell characteristic detection set 100 according to a third embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cell characteristic detection set 100 according to the third embodiment, showing an abutment body 70 attached to the substrate 20. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cell characteristic detection set 100 according to the third embodiment, showing an abutment body 70 attached to the substrate 20 that is longer in length from the substrate 20 than the abutment body 70 shown in Fig. 5.

[0056] The cell characteristic detection set 100 according to the third embodiment differs from the cell characteristic detection sets 100 according to the first and second embodiments in that the cell characteristic detection device 10 further includes a contact body 70. The following description will focus on the differences from the first and second embodiments. Note that points not specifically described are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 5 , the abutment body 70 is provided in a region on the substrate 20 side between the pair of supports 30 so that it can abut against the pair of supports 30 from the inside when the cell aggregate 15 contracts. The region on the substrate 20 side is the region between the substrate 20 and the cell aggregate 15. The distance between each support 30 and the abutment body 70 is set so that each support 30 that deforms due to the contraction of the cell aggregate 15 abuts against the abutment body 70. The abutment body 70 illustrated in FIG. 5 is attached to the substrate 20 so as to hang down from the substrate 20 toward the cell aggregate 15 in the region between the pair of supports 30. Note that the abutment body 70 may be attached to a part other than the substrate 20 as long as it is provided in a region on the substrate 20 side between the pair of supports 30. Furthermore, one abutment body 70 does not have to abut against both of the pair of supports 30. For example, a pair of abutment bodies 70 may be provided, and each abutment body 70 may abut against a different support 30.

[0058] As the cell aggregate 15 contracts, the pair of supports 30 elastically deform, starting from the portion of each support 30 facing the substrate 20, such that the lower ends of each support 30 approach each other. As the supports 30 deform due to the contraction of the cell aggregate 15, the abutting bodies 70 abut against each of the pair of supports 30. The pair of supports 30, which are deformed due to the contraction of the cell aggregate 15, abut against the abutting bodies 70, and the abutting bodies 70 suppress the deformation of the pair of supports 30. Therefore, the abutting bodies 70 provide resistance to the contraction of the cell aggregate 15. As a result, when a healthy strain is used, for example, the resistance provided to the contracting cell aggregate 15 causes the cell aggregate 15 to grow stronger. On the other hand, when a pathological strain is used, the resistance provided to the contracting cell aggregate 15 causes the cell aggregate 15 to grow weaker.

[0059] It is preferable that the abutment body 70 is detachable from the substrate 20. In this way, when resistance is not required for the contracting cell aggregate 15, the abutment body 70 is removed, and no resistance is applied to the contracting cell aggregate 15. Therefore, the presence or absence of resistance from the contracting cell aggregate 15 can be switched depending on the degree of culture of the cell aggregate 15.

[0060] It is preferable that there are multiple abutment bodies 70 that can be attached and detached to the substrate 20. In addition, it is preferable that the multiple abutment bodies 70 have different lengths from the substrate 20. The length of the abutment body 70 from the substrate 20 is the length from the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 24 of the substrate 20 to the lower end of the abutment body 70. The longer the length from the substrate 20, the farther the support 30 abuts the abutment body 70 from the substrate 20 (i.e., the closer to the cell aggregate 15) at which the cell aggregate 15 contracts. Therefore, the resistance that the abutment body 70 applies to the contracting cell aggregate 15 varies depending on the length of the abutment body 70, and increases as the length of the abutment body 70 increases. As a result, by attaching the abutment body 70 of a length that matches the culture conditions of the cell aggregate 15 to the substrate 20, it is possible to apply an appropriate amount of resistance to the contracting cell aggregate 15 according to the culture conditions of the cell aggregate 15.

[0061] Specifically, Fig. 6 shows a contact body 70 in which the length L3 of the contact body 70 from the substrate 20 is longer than the length L2 of the contact body 70 from the substrate 20 shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 6, when the length L3 of the contact body 70 from the substrate 20 is longer than the length L2 of the contact body 70 from the substrate 20 shown in Fig. 5, when the cell aggregate 15 contracts, the contact body 70 shown in Fig. 6 contacts each support 30 at a position closer to the cell aggregate 15 than the contact body 70 shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, the contact body 70 shown in Fig. 6 applies greater resistance to the contracting cell aggregate 15 than the contact body 70 shown in Fig. 5.

[0062] When culturing, the cell aggregates 15 grow, for example, stronger or weaker, in a shorter time by gradually increasing the resistance applied when the cell aggregates 15 contract. Therefore, when culturing the cell aggregates 15, by sequentially replacing the abutment bodies 70 with a shorter length from the substrate 20 with abutment bodies 70 with a longer length from the substrate 20, strong cell aggregates 15 or weak cell aggregates 15 can be efficiently cultured.

[0063] 4. Other Embodiments (1) In the above-described first embodiment (see FIG. 3 ), an example has been described in which the displacement amount ΔW of the support 30 is measured from below the transparent or translucent container 50 using the optical microscope 60. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the optical microscope 60 may measure the displacement amount ΔW from the side of the transparent container 50. Furthermore, for example, the measuring device that detects the displacement amount ΔW may be a measuring device other than an optical microscope. Furthermore, for example, the displacement amount ΔW of the support 30 may be detectable from the outside by connecting a strain gauge to the support 30. Furthermore, the container 50 does not need to be light-transmitting, and the cell characteristic detection set 100 may be capable of detecting the displacement amount ΔW from the outside.

[0064] (2) In the first embodiment (see FIG. 1 ), the pair of supports 30 are described as a pair of film bodies arranged opposite each other. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and the shape of the supports 30 may be, for example, a cylindrical or prismatic shape.

[0065] (3) In the second embodiment (see FIG. 4 ), the support 30 includes a recess 36 and a bent end portion 34. However, as shown in FIG. 7 , the support 30 may have a flat support body portion 32 with a notch 37 formed therein. The notch 37 is formed on a side surface of the support body portion 32 in the width direction. This configuration makes it easy to bend the portion of the support body portion 32 distal to the notch 37, allowing for subsequent formation of a bent portion corresponding to the bent end portion 34 described in the second embodiment. Furthermore, by bending the portion of the support body portion 32 distal to the notch 37, the cell aggregate 15 is held at the bent portion. Preferably, in opposing support body portions 32, the portions distal to the notch 37 of each support body portion 32 are bent perpendicularly in a direction approaching each other. This allows the cell aggregate 15 to be stably held, as in the second embodiment. Here, it is preferable that the notch 37 is formed at a position 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm from the tip of the support body 32.

[0066] The support 30 illustrated in Fig. 7 includes a recess 36 and a notch 37. The recess 36 illustrated in Fig. 7 is formed on both widthwise side surfaces of the support main body 32, similar to the recess 36 illustrated in Fig. 4. However, the longitudinal length of the recess 36 illustrated in Fig. 7 is shorter than the longitudinal length of the recess 36 illustrated in Fig. 4. The notch 37 is formed by cutting out a triangle on both widthwise side surfaces of the support main body 32, closer to the tip than the recess 36. The position, size, shape, etc. of the recess 36 and the notch 37 may be determined appropriately depending on the type of cell aggregate 15, etc.

[0067] (4) In the first embodiment (see FIG. 1 ), the cell aggregate 15 is described as a skeletal muscle cell aggregate, cardiac muscle cell aggregate, or smooth muscle cell aggregate produced by inducing differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). However, the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the cell aggregate 15 may be a muscle cell aggregate, adipocyte aggregate, bone cell aggregate, neuronal aggregate, epithelial cell aggregate, chondrocyte aggregate, or tendon tissue produced by inducing differentiation from embryonic stem cells (ES cells), nuclear transfer embryonic stem cells (ntES cells), somatic stem cells, umbilical cord blood stem cells, or the like. Furthermore, the cell aggregate 15 may be produced by a method other than differentiation induction.

[0068] (5) The configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradictions arise. Regarding other configurations, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0069] The technology according to the present disclosure can be utilized in a cell characteristic detection device for detecting the contractile characteristics of, for example, cardiomyocyte aggregates.

[0070] 10: Cell characteristic detection device 15: Cell aggregate 20: Substrate 30: Support 32: Support body 34: Bent end 50: Container 52a: Inner surface 70: Contact body ΔW: Displacement amount

Claims

1. A substrate; a pair of resin supports suspended from the substrate in an elastically deformable manner; the pair of supports are a pair of film bodies that are arranged opposite to each other and hang downward from the substrate, The pair of film bodies are made of a resin material having a Young's modulus of 100 MPa or more and 4500 MPa or less, and have a thickness of 5 μm or more and 400 μm or less, A cell characteristic detection device capable of externally detecting the amount of displacement of a pair of supports while holding a cell aggregate between the pair of supports.

2. The cell characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of supports have a support body portion extending downward from the substrate and a bent end portion formed by bending a lower end portion of the support body portion.

3. 2. The cell characteristic detection device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of supports are made of a polystyrene-based resin, a polypropylene-based resin, or a polyethylene-based resin.

4. The cell characteristic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the cell aggregate is a skeletal muscle cell aggregate, a cardiac muscle cell aggregate, or a smooth muscle cell aggregate.

5. A cell characteristic detection device as described in claim 1, wherein a contact body is provided in the substrate side region between the pair of supports, the contact body being capable of contacting the pair of supports from the inside when the cell aggregate contracts.

6. The cell characteristic detection device according to claim 5 , wherein a plurality of the contact members having different lengths from the substrate are detachably provided on the substrate.

7. The cell characteristic detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a container; A cell characteristic detection set, wherein the inner surface of the container has been treated to inhibit non-specific adsorption of cells.