Celery-derived scaffolds with liver lobule-mimicking structures for tissue engineering transplantation

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Hepatology

Background:

• Decellularized scaffolds are valuable for liver tissue engineering.
• Key challenges include preventing scaffold rejection and sourcing suitable liver cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel decellularized celery-derived scaffold for liver tissue engineering.
• To culture the scaffold with human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes (hiPSC-Heps).
• To evaluate the bioengineered liver tissue's viability, function, and biocompatibility.

Main Methods:

• Decellularization of celery to create a natural scaffold.
• Seeding the scaffold with hiPSC-Heps.
• In vitro culture and characterization of the bioengineered tissue.
• In vivo implantation in nude mice to assess biocompatibility and function.

Main Results:

• The decellularized celery scaffold possesses natural channels and porous structures.
• The engineered liver tissue maintained hiPSC-Hep viability and hepatic functions in vitro.
• Implanted tissue demonstrated good biocompatibility in nude mice.
• Significantly higher expressions of albumin (ALB) and periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS) were observed in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Decellularized celery scaffolds integrated with hiPSC-Heps offer a promising system for liver tissue engineering.
• This approach addresses challenges in scaffold rejection and cell sourcing.
• The bioengineered tissue shows potential for liver transplantation and regenerative medicine applications.