Details of a Researcher

SUDO Ryo

写真a

Affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of System Design Engineering (Yagami)

Position: Professor

Related Websites

Sudo Lab, Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University

External Links

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Career 【 Display / hide 】

2005.04

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2006.09

Postdoctoral Associate, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University
2006.10

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2009.03

Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Biological Engnineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
2009.04

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2012.03

Assistant Professor, Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University
2012.04

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2020.03

Associate Professor, Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University
2020.04

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Present

Professor, Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University

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Academic Background 【 Display / hide 】

2000.03

Keio University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of System Design Engineering

University, Graduated
2002.03

Keio University, Graduate School of Science and Technology, School of Fundamental Science and Technology

Graduate School, Completed, Master's course
2005.03

Keio University, Graduate School of Science and Technology, School of Fundamental Science and Technology

Graduate School, Completed, Doctoral course

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Academic Degrees 【 Display / hide 】

PhD, Keio University, 2005.03

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Research Areas 【 Display / hide 】

Life Science / Biomedical engineering (Biomedical Engineering/Tissue Engineering/Cell Biomechanics)

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Research Keywords 【 Display / hide 】

Tissue Engineering
Cell biomechanics
Biofabrication
Microfluidic device

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Books 【 Display / hide 】

“Vascular Morphogenesis”, Book Series “Methods in Molecular Biology”

Masafumi Watanabe, Ryo Sudo (Editor, Domenico Ribatti), Springer, 2021

Scope: Chapter 6 Microfluidic device setting by coculturing endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells, Contact page： 57-66
“Hepatic Stem Cells”, Book Series “Methods in Molecular Biology”

Ryo Sudo (Editor, Naoki Tanimizu), Springer, 2018.12

Scope: Chapter 15 Reconstruction of hepatic tissue structures using interstitial flow in a microfluidic device, Contact page： 167-174
臓器チップの技術と開発動向

須藤亮（酒井康行, 金森敏幸監修）, シーエムシー出版, 2018.04

Scope: 第7章マイクロ流体システムによる血管形成モデルと肝細胞3次元培養モデルの融合, Contact page： 193-200
細胞のマルチスケールメカノバイオロジー

谷下一夫、須藤亮（佐藤正明編著）, 森北出版, 2017.05

Scope: 第6章細胞の力学刺激にともなう器官形成, Contact page： 119-149
Vascular Engineering

Ryo Sudo, Seok Chung, Yoojin Shin, Kazuo Tanishita (Editor, Kazuo Tanishita and Kimiko Yamamoto), Springer, 2016.03

Scope: Chapter 16 Integrated Vascular Engineering: Vascularization of Reconstructed Tissue, Contact page： 297-332

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Papers 【 Display / hide 】

Construction of highly vascularized hepatic spheroids of primary hepatocytes via pro-angiogenic strategy in vitro

Huang Y.H., Watanabe M., Yamashita T., Sudo R.

Biofabrication 17 ( 3 ) 2025.07

ISSN 17585082

　View Summary

Primary hepatocytes are widely recognized for their ability to accurately represent the in vivo hepatocyte phenotype. However, traditional avascular primary hepatocyte culture models are limited by inadequate mass transfer, which leads to a rapid decline in hepatocyte function and survival. To address these challenges, vascularization of hepatic spheroids is crucial for enhancing oxygen and nutrient supply, thereby enabling the construction of larger and more complex hepatic tissues in vitro. In this study, we achieved vascularization of hepatic spheroids containing freshly isolated primary hepatocytes by incorporating fibroblasts as a source of paracrine factors to induce angiogenesis. Multicellular spheroids composed of primary hepatocytes and fibroblasts were formed in non-adhesive concave wells, and one of the spheroids was subsequently embedded in a fibrin-collagen hydrogel within a microfluidic device. Endothelial cells were then seeded onto adjacent microfluidic channels. They formed microvascular networks that extended toward and penetrated the hepatic spheroid. The vascularized hepatic spheroid closely mimicked hepatic sinusoids, with hepatocytes in close contact with microvessels. Moreover, the vascularized spheroid exhibited significantly enhanced hepatic function, specifically albumin secretion and urea synthesis. Our findings provide insights into the establishment of highly vascularized hepatic spheroids in vitro, which is crucial for constructing scalable hepatic tissues in the context of biofabrication.
- Access to Document (DOI)
Controlled microvasculature for organ-on-a-chip applications produced by high-definition laser patterning

Salvadori A., Watanabe M., Markovic M., Sudo R., Ovsianikov A.

Biofabrication 17 ( 3 ) 2025.07

ISSN 17585082

　View Summary

Organs-on-Chips (OoCs) are 3D models aiming to faithfully replicate in vitro specific functions of human organs or tissues. While promising as an alternative to traditional 2D cell culture and animal models in drug development, controlled realization of complex microvasculature within OoC remains a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate how femtosecond laser patterning allows to produce hollow microvascular-like channels inside a collagen-based matrix directly within a microfluidic chip. The hydrogel preparation protocol was optimized to maintain structural stability, facilitating successful endothelialization of produced channels. The resulting microvascular structures exhibit notable physiological relevance, as evidenced by the expression of key endothelial markers (ZO-1, and VE-cadherin) and the successful reproduction of the barrier function. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) exposure induces a concentration-dependent increase in vascular permeability and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). The proposed method holds the potential to control and faithfully reproduce the vascularization process in OoC platforms, in both physiological and inflammatory conditions.
- Access to Document (DOI)
Advanced liver-on-chip model mimicking hepatic lobule with continuous microvascular network via high-definition laser patterning

Watanabe M., Salvadori A., Markovic M., Sudo R., Ovsianikov A.

Materials Today Bio 32 2025.06

　View Summary

There is a great demand for development of advanced in vitro liver models to predict the efficacy and safety of drug candidates accurately in the preclinical drug development. Despite the great efforts to develop biomimetic models, it remains challenging to precisely mimic a functional unit of the liver (i.e., hepatic lobule) with a continuous microvascular network. Recent progress in laser patterning has allowed us to create arbitrary biomimetic structures with high resolution. Here, we propose an advanced liver-on-chip model mimicking the hepatic lobule with a continuous microvascular network, ranging from the microvessels to the central vein of the liver, utilizing femtosecond laser patterning. Firstly, we optimize the laser power to pattern microchannels mimicking the microvessel and central vein of the hepatic lobule by using a femtosecond laser within a collagen-based hydrogel containing hepatic cells. Secondly, we construct continuous microvessels with luminal structures by comparing different microchannel sizes in diameter. Finally, we assemble a millimeter-scale hepatic lobule-like structure with multiple layers of microvascular networks in the liver-on-chip. Furthermore, our liver-on-chip model exhibits major liver functions and drug-induced hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by albumin and urea productions and by a toxic response to acetaminophen, respectively. Our approach provides valuable strategies for the development of advanced physiological and pathological liver-on-chip models for pharmaceutical and toxicological studies.
- Access to Document (DOI)
Multi-Photon 3D Bioprinting of Scaffold Structures for Blood Vessel Formation Using Femtosecond Laser

Suda M., Ono A., Sudo R., Taguchi Y.

International Conference on Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics 2025

ISSN 21605033

　View Summary

This study presents a method for applying multi-photon absorption to fabricate micro-scale scaffold structures for blood vessel formation within hydrogels, using a femtosecond laser. The structures were fabricated via femtosecond laser ablation and cavitation enabling the replication of complex micro-scale microvascular systems. A pressure control system was designed to reproduce variations in channel diameter observed in natural blood vessels. By adjusting the pressure, changes in diameter were confirmed demonstrating the influence of pressure on cavitation. Fabricated structures using the two modes were also evaluated by seeding endothelial cells and subsequent blood vessel formation was observed.
- Access to Document (DOI)
Novel approach for reconstruction of the three-dimensional biliary system in decellularized liver scaffold using hepatocyte progenitors

Hirukawa K., Yagi H., Kuroda K., Watanabe M., Nishi K., Nagata S., Abe Y., Kitago M., Adachi S., Sudo R., Kitagawa Y.

PLoS ONE 19 ( 2 February ) 2024.02

　View Summary

Reconstruction of the biliary system is indispensable for the regeneration of transplantable liver grafts. Here, we report the establishment of the first continuous three-dimensional biliary system scaffold for bile acid excretion using a novel method. We confirmed the preservation of the liver-derived extracellular matrix distribution in the scaffold. In addition, hepatocyte progenitors decellularized via the bile duct by slow-speed perfusion differentiated into hepatocyte- and cholangiocyte-like cells, mimicking hepatic cords and bile ducts, respectively. Furthermore, qRT-PCR demonstrated increased ALB, BSEP, and AQP8 expression, revealing bile canaliculi- and bile duct-specific genetic patterns. Therefore, we concluded that locally preserved extracellular matrices in the scaffold stimulated hepatic progenitors and provided efficient differentiation, as well as regeneration of a three-dimensional continuous biliary system from hepatic cords through bile ducts. These findings suggest that organ-derived scaffolds can be utilized for the efficient reconstruction of functional biliary systems.
- Access to Document (DOI)

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Reviews, Commentaries, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

Special Issue on Bio-MEMS

Fujisawa S., Sato K., Minami K., Nagayama K., Sudo R., Miyoshi H., Nakashima Y., Okeyo K.O., Nakahara T.

Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics 35 ( 5 ) 1121 - 1122 2023

ISSN 09153942
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Research Projects of Competitive Funds, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

三次元造形組織工学の創成

2025.04

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2028.03

文部科学省・日本学術振興会, 科学研究費助成事業, 基盤研究（Ｂ）, Principal investigator
Elucidation of the emergence mechanism of heterogeneity by glioma stem cells for a breakthrough cancer treatment strategy

2022.06

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2024.03

MEXT,JSPS, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, 挑戦的研究（萌芽）, Principal investigator
胆汁排泄を実現する肝・胆管組織工学の開拓

2020.07

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2022.03

MEXT,JSPS, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory), Principal investigator
血管相互作用を基軸にした三次元コンプレックス組織工学の創生

2019.04

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2023.03

MEXT,JSPS, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Principal investigator
血管新生と神経新生の融合による三次元脳組織工学の開拓

2018.06

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2020.03

MEXT,JSPS, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory) , Principal investigator

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Awards 【 Display / hide 】

Asian-Pacific Conference on Biomechanics 2021 Outstanding Abstract Award

Yuta Chonan, Tadahiro Yamashita, Ryo Sudo, 2021.12

Type of Award： Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.
2020年度日本機械学会賞（論文）

Masafurmi Watanabe, Ryo Sudo, 2021.04, 日本機械学会, Establishment of an in vitro vascular anastomosis model in a microfluidic device

Type of Award： Award from Japanese society, conference, symposium, etc.
2020年度中谷賞奨励賞

須藤亮, 2021.02, 中谷医工計測技術振興財団, 三次元組織の観測・可視化ツールとしてのマイクロ流体デバイスの開発と有用性の検証

Type of Award： Award from publisher, newspaper, foundation, etc.
Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering, 2020 Papers of the Year

Masafurmi Watanabe, Ryo Sudo, 2020.06, Establishment of an in vitro vascular anastomosis model in a microfluidic device

Type of Award： Honored in official journal of a scientific society, scientific journal
Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering, 2020 Graphics of the Year

Masafurmi Watanabe, Ryo Sudo, 2020.06, Establishment of an in vitro vascular anastomosis model in a microfluidic device

Type of Award： Honored in official journal of a scientific society, scientific journal