Construction of three-dimensional vascularized functional human liver tissue using a layer-by-layer cell coating...

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Liver transplantation faces donor shortages, driving research into artificial liver tissue.
• Developing functional, vascularized liver tissue is crucial for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a layer-by-layer (LbL) cell coating technique for generating vascularized artificial liver tissue.
• To assess the functionality and viability of engineered liver tissue in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Utilized LbL nanofilms of fibronectin and gelatin to coat cells.
• Constructed three-dimensional liver tissue using cryopreserved human primary hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts.
• Transplanted engineered tissue subcutaneously into NOD/SCID mice for in vivo evaluation.

Main Results:

• LbL cell coating significantly enhanced in vitro human albumin production and cytochrome P450 activity (P < 0.01).
• Transplanted vascularized liver tissue demonstrated superior albumin production in early stages compared to non-vascularized controls (P < 0.01).
• Histological analysis revealed improved hepatocyte morphology and integrity in vascularized tissue.

Conclusions:

• The LbL cell coating technique is effective for generating functional, vascularized liver tissue.
• This approach holds significant potential for regenerative medicine applications, particularly in addressing liver disease.
• The technique offers a scalable and efficient method for creating complex biological tissues.