Construct hepatic analog by cell-matrix controlled assembly technology

Living donor liver transplantation has been widely performed since 19891]. Unfortunately, the demand for donor livers far outstrips the supply. The severe short- age of donor livers continues to grow, thereby stimu- lating people to develop alternate eff…

Construct hepatic analog by cell-matrix controlled assembly technology

A mixture of hepatic cells and chito- san/gelatin solution was deposited to construct a hepatic analog by way of layer-by-layer deposition technique using a home-made devise. The size and cell concentration of the analogs can be controlled freely. Approximately 90% of the hepatic cells re- mained viable under 0.2 Mpa extrusion pressure. Cultured in vitro 8 weeks before animal test, hepatic cells in structure maintained their phenotype and kept proliferating, and albumin and other secretion of the cells increased. Cords and hepaton-like structures were observed after culture for 20 d. These results indicate that hepatic cells could be assembled di- rectly into a 3D viable structure and expanded to form a hepatic organoid. This accomplishment is consid- ered to be an interesting means for the fabrication of liver replacements.