Functional and Molecular Imaging Goup

Preclinical research and development of nano-diagnostic and therapeutic systems for functional and molecular imaging and treatment 

​To tackle hard-to-cure diseases, such as cancer, it is essential to accurately diagnose the disease state, develop an optimal treatment strategy based on that diagnosis, and apply the most suitable therapeutic technologies. Our research focuses on developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic systems by leveraging polymer chemistry and quantum technologies. For diagnostics, we are creating nanoprobes for MRI, capable of safely visualizing pathological sites in the body with high spatial resolution, approaching the level of cellular populations. For therapy, we are creating nanomedicines that restore cellular function by regulating gene expression. We are committed to the preclinical development of these cutting-edge nano-theranostic systems that visualize what was previously invisible and treat diseases that were previously considered untreatable.

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Member

Osada Kensuke Group Leader

• Ma Liqiu Senior Researcher
• Nonaka Hiroi Senior Technical Staff
• Gao Shan Postdoctoral Fellow
• Maehara Nanami Trainee

Selected Publications

1. Rikiyama K.,Maehara N.,Abe H.,Nishimura Y.,Yukawa H.,Kaminaga K.,Igarashi R.,Osada K*.:Quantification of poly(ethylene glycol) crowding on nanodiamonds toward quantum biosensor for improved prevention effects on protein adsorption and lung accumulation.Langmuir,40(18),9471-9480,(2024)
2. Naito M.,Watanuki Y.,Toh K. ,Yum J.,Kim S.B.,Taniwaki K.,Ogura S.,Ishida H.,Cho M.,Chaya H.,Miyajima K.,Osada K.,Minegishi K.,Aoki Y.,Yamasaki Y.,Miyata K*.:Size-tunable PEG-grafted copolymers as a polymeric nanoruler for passive targeting muscle tissues. Journal of Control Release,347,607-614 (2022)
3. Yoshinaga N.,Uchida S*.,Dirisala A.,Naito M.,Koji K.,Osada K.,Cabral H.,Kataoka K*.:Bridging mRNA and polycation using RNA oligonucleotide derivatives improves the robustness of polyplex micelle for efficient mRNA delivery.Advanced Healthcare Materials, 11(9),2102016,(2022)
4. Dirisala A.,Uchida S.,Toh K.,Li J.,Osawa S.,Tockary T.A.,Liu X.,Abbasi S.,Hayashi K.,Mochida Y.,Fukushima S.,Kinoh H.,Osada K.,Kataoka K*.:Transient stealth coating of liver sinusoidal wall by anchoring two-armed PEG for retargeting nanomedicines.Science Advances,6(26),eabb8133,(2020)
5. Tockary T.A.,Foo W.,Dirisala A.,Chen Q.,Uchida S.,Osawa S.,Mochida Y.,Liu X.,Kinoh H.,Cabral H.,Osada K*.,Kataoka K*.:Single-stranded DNA-packaged polyplex micelle as AAV-inspired compact gene vector to systemically target stroma-rich pancreatic cancer.ACS Nano,13(11),12732-12742,(2019)
6. Cabral H.,Miyata K.,Osada K.,Kataoka K.:Block Copolymer Micelles in Nanomedicine Applications.ACS Nano,118(14),6844-6892,(2018)
7. Yoshinaga N.,Ishii T.,Naito M.,Endo T.,Uchida S.,Cabral H.,Osada K.,Kataoka K.:Polyplex micelles with phenylboronate/gluconamide crosslinking in the core exerting promoted gene transfection through spatio-temporal responsivity to intracellular pH and ATP concentration.Journal of the American Chemical Society,139(51),18567-18575,(2017)
8. Anraku Y.,Kuwahara H.,Fukusato Y.,Mizoguchi A.,Ishii T.,Nitta K.,Matsumoto Y.,Toh K.,Miyata K.,Uchida S.,Nishina K.,Osada K.,Itaka K.,Nishiyama N.,Mizusawa H.,Yokota T.,Kataoka K.:Glycemic control boosts glucosylated nanocarrier Crossing the BBB into the brain.Nature Communications,8,1001,(2017)
9. Nomoto T.,Fukushima S.,Kumagai M.,Machitani K.,Arnida,Matsumoto Y.,Oba M.,Miyata K.,Osada K.,Nishiyama N.,Kataoka K.:Three-layered polyplex micelle as a multifunctional nanocarrier platform for light-induced systemic gene transfer.Nature Communications,5,3545-3554,(2014)
10. Osada K.,Oshima H.,Kobayashi D.,Doi M.,Enoki M.,Yamasaki Y.,Kataoka K.:Quantized folding of plasmid DNA condensed with block catiomer into characteristic rod structures promoting transgene efficacy.Journal of the American Chemical Society,132(35),12343-12348 (2010)