In this paper, we propose an anchoring device with pillars to immobilize an adipocyte microfiber that has a fiber-shaped adipocyte tissue covered by an alginate gel shell. Because the device enabled the immobilization of the microfiber in a culture dish even after its transportation and the exchange of the culture medium, we can easily track the specific positions of the microfiber for a long period. Owing to the characteristics of the anchoring device, we successfully performed temporal observations of the microfiber on the device for a month to investigate the function and morphology of three-dimensional cultured adipocytes. Furthermore, to demonstrate the applicability of the anchoring device to drug testing, we evaluated the lipolysis of the microfiber's adipocytes by applying reagents with an anti-obesity effect. Therefore, we believe that the anchoring device with the microfiber will be a useful tool for temporal biochemical analyses.
Keywords: adipose tissue; biofabrication; lipolysis; microfluidics.