Cell culture container and cell culture method

Abstract

To provide a cell culture chamber and a cell culture method that are capable of effectively constructing an intercellular network in a culture space. A cell culture chamber ( 10 ) according to the present invention is a cell culture chamber ( 10 ) including a plurality of microchambers ( 11 ) formed on a surface thereof, characterized in that convex portions (side walls 12 ) that partition the microchambers ( 11 ) adjacent to each other are formed to prevent cells from being adhered to upper surfaces of the convex portions. Consequently, cells can be cultured exclusively within the microchambers ( 11 ), and an intercellular network can be constructed effectively.

1 . A cell culture chamber comprising a plurality of microchambers formed on a surface thereof,
 wherein convex portions that partition the microchambers adjacent to each other are formed to prevent cells from being adhered to upper surfaces of the convex portions.   
   
   
       2 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein the convex portions have a multi-stage structure to prevent cells from being adhered to an upper surface of each stage. 
   
   
       3 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the upper surfaces of the convex portions has a short side width of 0.5 to 15 μm, and each of the convex portions has a height equal to or more than three times the short side width. 
   
   
       4 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the convex portions has a height of 30 to 300 μm. 
   
   
       5 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein, in 50% or more of an upper portion in a height direction of the convex portions comprising a bottom surface of each of the microchambers as a reference surface, an angle formed between the bottom surface and each side surface of the convex portions is 80° to 90°. 
   
   
       6 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the microchambers has a bottom surface area of 6.25×10 −4  mm 2  to 0.563 mm 2 . 
   
   
       7 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of each of the microchambers has a major axis which is 1 to 1.5 times a minor axis thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of each of the microchambers has a major axis which is 1.5 to 50 times a minor axis thereof, and migration properties of cells are evaluated. 
   
   
       9 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein the microchambers communicate with at least one adjacent microchamber. 
   
   
       10 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 9 , wherein an opening for allowing the microchambers to communicate with the at least one adjacent microchamber has a width of 1 to 25 μm. 
   
   
       11 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein an area having the micropatterns formed therein is subjected to surface treatment. 
   
   
       12 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 11 , wherein an integrated layer film formed by the surface treatment has two or more layers comprising at least one layer of an inorganic film and at least one layer of an organic film. 
   
   
       13 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , wherein an area having the micropatterns formed therein is transparent. 
   
   
       14 . A cell culture method comprising injecting cells into the microchambers formed in the cell culture chamber according to  claim 1 , and culturing the cells. 
   
   
       15 . The cell culture method according to  claim 14 , wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of liver cells, fat cells, osteoblasts, pulp cells, cartilage cells, stem cells, nerve cells, and cardiac muscle cells. 
   
   
       16 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 3 , wherein the convex portions have a multi-stage structure to prevent cells from being adhered to an upper surface of each stage. 
   
   
       17 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 3 , wherein, in 50% or more of an upper portion in a height direction of the convex portions comprising a bottom surface of each of the microchambers as a reference surface, an angle formed between the bottom surface and each side surface of the convex portions is 80° to 90°. 
   
   
       18 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the microchambers has a bottom surface area of 6.25×10 −4  mm 2  to 0.563 mm 2 . 
   
   
       19 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 3 , wherein a bottom surface of each of the microchambers has a major axis which is 1 to 1.5 times a minor axis thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The cell culture chamber according to  claim 3 , wherein a bottom surface of each of the microchambers has a major axis which is 1.5 to 50 times a minor axis thereof, and migration properties of cells are evaluated.