start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=243 end-page=262 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2012 dt-pub=20120912 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Use of Silicone Elastomer-Based Microfluidic Devices and Systems in Reproductive Technologies en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=3 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=354 end-page=359 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2012 dt-pub=20120201 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Scanning and non-scanning surface plasmon microscopy to observe cell adhesion sites en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We observe adhesion sites of a cell on a substrate with high resolution. Since this observation requires interfacial measurements between the cell and the substrate, we employ scanning localized surface plasmon microscopy. We experimentally show that focal adhesion sites of a mouse muscle cell can be observed without fluorescent labeling. We also show that a non-scanning surface plasmon microscope combined with the scanning localized surface plasmon microscope contributes to observing an entire cell adhesion site and identify regions of interest. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WatanabeKoyo en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Koyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawataFukukazu en-aut-sei=Kawata en-aut-mei=Fukukazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagataKotaro en-aut-sei=Nagata en-aut-mei=Kotaro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NingJun en-aut-sei=Ning en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanoHiroshi en-aut-sei=Kano en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Information and Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Information and Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Engineering for Composite Functions, Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Engineering for Composite Functions, Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=2012 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2012 dt-pub=2012 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Theoretical Study on the Detection of Tilted Lipid Bilayers Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Techniques en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Effective refractive indices detected using surface plasmon resonance techniques are calculated as a function of the tilt angle of lipid bilayers in a multilayered model. The changes in the effective refractive indices are derived from the shift of an excitation angle of surface plasmon. To obtain effective refractive index plots, we determined refractive index changes in the lipid bilayers with 3 and 5?nm thicknesses as a function of tilt angle and obtained a relationship between the effective refractive index and tilt angle. We also showed that the effective refractive index depended on the lipid bilayers thickness and anisotropic permittivities, which vary with interchain distance. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WatanabeKoyo en-aut-sei=Watanabe en-aut-mei=Koyo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=57 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=163 end-page=167 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2010 dt-pub=20101012 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Hydrophobic Silicone Elastomer Chamber for Recording Trajectories of Motile Porcine Sperms without Adsorption en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Motile porcine sperms adhere to hydrophilic materials such as glass and plastics. The adsorption of sperms to a hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane is less compared with that to glass. We investigated the linear velocity (LV) and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALHD) of motile porcine sperm on glass and PDMS preparations using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Significant decreases were observed in the 15-min LV (P<0.05) and ALHD (P<0.05) in motile porcine sperm on glass preparations compared with those on PDMS preparations. These differences were due to adsorption of the head and/or neck to hydrophilic substrates. Because of the elasticity of PDMS, we propose that a PDMS membrane should be used for CASA. To investigate the dynamics of motile porcine sperms with microfluidics, we do not recommend plasma treatment to bond PDMS and glass in the microchannel preparation; instead, we suggest that a PDMS molding process without plasma treatment be used for preparation of microfluidic channels. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaYuka en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaKeisuke en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Keisuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunahashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Funahashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University en-keyword=Adsorption kn-keyword=Adsorption en-keyword=Porcine sperm motility kn-keyword=Porcine sperm motility en-keyword=Silicone elastomer kn-keyword=Silicone elastomer en-keyword=Trajectories kn-keyword=Trajectories END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=24 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=109 end-page=115 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2012 dt-pub=201201 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Screening of sperm velocity by fluid mechanical characteristics of a cyclo-olefin polymer microfluidic sperm-sorting device en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The microfluidic sperm-sorting (MFSS) device is a promising advancement for assisted reproductive technology. Previously, poly(dimethylsiloxiane) and quartz MFSS devices were developed and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. However, these disposable devices were not clinically suitable for assisted reproduction, so a cyclo-olefin polymer MFSS (COP-MFSS) device was developed. By micromachining, two microfluidic channels with different heights and widths (chip A: 0.3 x 0.5 mm; chip B: 0.1 x 0.6 mm) were prepared. Sorted sperm concentrations were similar in both microfluidic channels. Linear-velocity distribution using the microfluidic channel of chip B was higher than that of chip A. Using confocal fluorescence microscopy, it was found that the highest number of motile spermatozoa swam across the laminar flow at the bottom of the microfluidic channel. The time required to swim across the laminar flow was longer at the bottom and top of the microfluidic channels than in the middle because of the low fluid velocity. These results experimentally demonstrated that the width of microfluidic channels should be increased in the region of laminar flow from the semen inlet to the outlet for unsorted spermatozoa to selectively recover spermatozoa with high linear velocity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakenamiMami en-aut-sei=Takenami en-aut-mei=Mami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaYuka en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HyakutakeToru en-aut-sei=Hyakutake en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanaseShinichiro en-aut-sei=Yanase en-aut-mei=Shinichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University en-keyword=laminar flow kn-keyword=laminar flow en-keyword=linear velocity kn-keyword=linear velocity en-keyword=microfluidic sperm sorting kn-keyword=microfluidic sperm sorting en-keyword=motility kn-keyword=motility END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=94 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=1135 end-page=1137 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2010 dt-pub=201008 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Blastocyst quality scoring based on morphologic grading correlates with cell number en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Blastocyst quality score (BQS), first reported by Rehman et al., is a numerical blastocyst-morphology grading system based on the criteria established by Gardner and Schoolcraft. We demonstrate a positive correlation between the calculated BQS score and cell number by staining thawed human embryos and suggest that BQS can be applied to evaluate culture systems clinically. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiNobuyoshi en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Nobuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakiueChisato en-aut-sei=Takiue en-aut-mei=Chisato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirataRei en-aut-sei=Hirata en-aut-mei=Rei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HabaraToshihiro en-aut-sei=Habara en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=74 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=863 end-page=870 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2010 dt-pub=20100915 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Application of a microfluidic sperm sorter to the in-vitro fertilization of porcine oocytes reduced the incidence of polyspermic penetration en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The objective of this study was to use a microfluidic sperm sorter (MFSS), designed to isolate motile human spermatozoa with laminar flows (no centrifugation), for porcine IVF. Boar spermatozoa were diluted at 1 x 10(8) with a diluent containing 20% seminal fluid and flowed with modified TCM-199 (mM199, with 5 mM caffeine) to introduce motile sperm into the exit chamber for IVF. In Experiment 1, after flowing for 5 min, sperm concentration varied significantly among specific sites within the MFSS collecting chamber (range, 0.8 +/- 0.5 x 10(4) to 575.0 +/- 56.3 x 10(4) cells/mL; mean +/- SEM). In Experiment 2, when porcine IVM oocytes were placed at three locations in the MFSS exit chamber (where only motile spermatozoa accumulated) and subsequently cultured in caffeine-free mM199 for 8 h, sperm penetration rate was not significantly different among places (86.1 +/- 10.5 to 100%), but the monospermic penetration rate was lower (P < 0.05) in oocytes 3.5 mm from the exit position (12.5 +/- 4.8%) than those at 7.5 mm (53.1 +/- 6.0%) or further (41.9 +/- 2.8%) from the exit. In Experiment 3, the normal fertilization index (ratio of monospermic oocytes to number of oocytes examined) 8 h after insemination was higher (P < 0.05) in the MFSS-IVF system (0.375 +/- 0.040) than both standard IVF and transient IVF (0.222 +/- 0.028 and 0.189 +/- 0.027, respectively, with co-culture for 8 h and for 5 min). Developmental competence of fertilized oocytes (blastocyst formation) was higher (P < 0.05) in the MFSS-IVF system (40.9 +/- 2.3%) than in either standard or transient IVF (22.6 +/- 1.4 and 33.7 +/- 3.5%). In conclusion, brief co-culture of porcine oocytes with spermatozoa gradually accumulated in the MFSS chamber improved the efficiency of producing monospermic fertilized embryos and blastocysts. Furthermore, efficiencies were significantly affected by oocyte location within the chamber. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=SanoHikaru en-aut-sei=Sano en-aut-mei=Hikaru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunahashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Funahashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Animal Science, Graduate school of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate school of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate school of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Animal Science, Graduate school of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University en-keyword=Oocytes kn-keyword=Oocytes en-keyword=Polyspermy kn-keyword=Polyspermy en-keyword=IVF kn-keyword=IVF en-keyword=Sperm sorter kn-keyword=Sperm sorter en-keyword=Pig kn-keyword=Pig END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=56 cd-vols= no-issue=5 article-no= start-page=552 end-page=557 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2010 dt-pub=201010 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=In-vitro Culture with a Tilting Device in Chemically Defined Media During Meiotic Maturation and Early Development Improves the Quality of Blastocysts Derived from In-vitro Matured and Fertilized Porcine Oocytes en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Under physiological conditions, mammalian oocytes and embryos appear to be stimulated not only chemically but also mechanically, such as by compression, shear stress and/or friction force in the follicle and female reproductive tract. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of kinetic culture with a tilting device in chemically defined media during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes and in vitro culture (IVC) following in vitro fertilization (IVF) on the early developmental competence and quality of blastocysts. After culture in a chemically defined IVM medium, modified porcine oocyte medium (mPOM) containing gonadotropins and dibutyryl cAMP for 20 h, the mean diameter of the cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) was larger in the tilting culture than in the static controls, whereas the diameter of the oocytes did not differ. When culture of the COCs was continued additionally in a fresh medium without gonadotropins and dibutyryl cAMP for 24 h, the incidences of oocytes completing GVBD and developing to the metaphase-II stage did not differ between the tilting and static culture systems. Furthermore, the sperm penetration after IVF and developmental competence of the oocytes to the blastocyst stage were not different between the tilting and static systems during IVM and IVC. However, tilting culture during both IVM and IVC had a significant positive effect on the number of cells per blastocyst (P<0.05). These observations indicate that tilting culture during IVM and IVC in chemically defined media improves the quality of blastocyst, as determined by the number of cells per blastocyst, without any effects on penetrability and developmental competence. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KoikeTakayuki en-aut-sei=Koike en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=FunahashiHiroaki en-aut-sei=Funahashi en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate school of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University en-keyword=Inclining device kn-keyword=Inclining device en-keyword=In vitro culture kn-keyword=In vitro culture en-keyword=In vitro fertilization kn-keyword=In vitro fertilization en-keyword=Oocytes kn-keyword=Oocytes en-keyword=Pig kn-keyword=Pig END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=11 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=25 end-page=33 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2009 dt-pub=200902 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Application of a numerical simulation to improve the separation efficiency of a sperm sorter en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=This paper describes a study in which numerical simulations were applied to improve the separation efficiency of a microfluidic-based sperm sorter. Initially, the motion of 31 sperm were modeled as a sinusoidal wave. The modeled sperm were expected to move while vibrating in the fluid within the microchannel. In this analysis, the number of sperm extracted at the outlet channel and the rate of movement of the highly motile sperm were obtained for a wide range of flow velocities within the microchannel. By varying the channel height, and the width and the position of the sperm-inlet channel, we confirmed that the separation efficiency was highly dependent on the fluid velocity within the channel. These results will be valuable for improving the device configuration, and might help to realize further improvements in efficiency in the future. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HyakutakeToru en-aut-sei=Hyakutake en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HashimotoYuki en-aut-sei=Hashimoto en-aut-mei=Yuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YanaseShinichiro en-aut-sei=Yanase en-aut-mei=Shinichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University en-keyword=Human reproduction kn-keyword=Human reproduction en-keyword=Microfluid kn-keyword=Microfluid en-keyword=Numerical simulation kn-keyword=Numerical simulation en-keyword=Separation efficiency kn-keyword=Separation efficiency en-keyword=Sperm sorter kn-keyword=Sperm sorter END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=9 cd-vols= no-issue=22 article-no= start-page=3306 end-page=3309 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2009 dt-pub=2009 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Fabricating small-scale, curved, polymeric structures with convex and concave menisci through interfacial free energy equilibrium en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Polymeric curved structures are widely used in imaging systems including optical fibers and microfluidic channels. Here, we demonstrate that small-scale, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based, curved structures can be fabricated through controlling interfacial free energy equilibrium. Resultant structures have a smooth, symmetric, curved surface, and may be convex or concave in form based on surface tension balance. Their curvatures are controlled by surface characteristics (i.e., hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity) of the molds and semi-liquid PDMS. In addition, these structures are shown to be biocompatible for cell culture. Our system provides a simple, efficient and economical method for generating integrateable optical components without costly fabrication facilities. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ChengChao-Min en-aut-sei=Cheng en-aut-mei=Chao-Min kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=WangI-Jan en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=I-Jan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaYuka en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=LeDucPhilip R. en-aut-sei=LeDuc en-aut-mei=Philip R. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Departments of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Departments of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Departments of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=20 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=358 end-page=364 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2010 dt-pub=201003 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Improved development of mouse and human embryos using a tilting embryo culture system en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Mammalian embryos experience not only hormonal but also mechanical stimuli, such as shear stress, compression and friction force in the Fallopian tube before nidation. In order to apply mechanical stimuli to embryos in a conventional IVF culture system, the tilting embryo culture system (TECS) was developed. The observed embryo images from the TECS suggest that the velocities and shear stresses of TECS embryos are similar to those experienced in the oviduct. Use of TECS enhanced the development rate to the blastocyst stage and significantly increased the cell number of mouse blastocysts (P < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, human thawed embryos showed slight improvement in development to the blastocyst stage following culture in TECS compared with static controls. Rates of blastocyst formation following culture in TECS were significantly improved in low-quality embryos and those embryos cultured under suboptimal conditions (P < 0.05). The TECS is proposed as a promising approach to improve embryo development and blastocyst formation by exposing embryos to mechanical stimuli similar to those in the Fallopian tube. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MatsuuraKoji en-aut-sei=Matsuura en-aut-mei=Koji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayashiNobuyoshi en-aut-sei=Hayashi en-aut-mei=Nobuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KurodaYuka en-aut-sei=Kuroda en-aut-mei=Yuka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakiueChisato en-aut-sei=Takiue en-aut-mei=Chisato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirataRei en-aut-sei=Hirata en-aut-mei=Rei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakenamiMami en-aut-sei=Takenami en-aut-mei=Mami kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=AoiYoko en-aut-sei=Aoi en-aut-mei=Yoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshiokaNanako en-aut-sei=Yoshioka en-aut-mei=Nanako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HabaraToshihiro en-aut-sei=Habara en-aut-mei=Toshihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MukaidaTetsunori en-aut-sei=Mukaida en-aut-mei=Tetsunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=NaruseKeiji en-aut-sei=Naruse en-aut-mei=Keiji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=9 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama Couples Clinic affil-num=10 en-affil= kn-affil=Hiroshima HART Clinic affil-num=11 en-affil= kn-affil=Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University en-keyword=blastocyst kn-keyword=blastocyst en-keyword=embryo development kn-keyword=embryo development en-keyword=mechanical stimuli kn-keyword=mechanical stimuli en-keyword=shear stress kn-keyword=shear stress en-keyword=tilting embryo culture system kn-keyword=tilting embryo culture system END