Mesenchymal Stem Cells Loaded in Injectable Alginate Hydrogels Promote Liver Growth and Attenuate Liver Fibrosis in...

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Hepatology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Cirrhosis severely limits liver regeneration, hindering surgical options for cancer patients.
• Portal vein blockade (PVB) stimulates liver growth, but regeneration often fails in 20-30% of patients.
• Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy shows promise for improving PVB outcomes, but poor cell retention limits efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an alginate hydrogel system for enhanced delivery and retention of MSCs.
• To evaluate the efficacy of MSC-loaded hydrogels in promoting liver regeneration and reducing fibrosis in a cirrhotic rat model.

Main Methods:

• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were loaded into alginate hydrogels.
• The MSC-loaded hydrogels were administered intraportally to cirrhotic rats.
• Liver volume, enzyme levels, histology, and cell retention were monitored and compared to control groups.

Main Results:

• The alginate hydrogel maintained high MSC viability (89.0 ± 3.0%) and sustained release for over two weeks.
• MSC-loaded hydrogel treatment significantly increased future liver remnant (FLR) volume (0.57 ± 0.32) and weight (0.84 ± 0.05).
• Treated rats showed improved liver enzymes and reduced hepatic fibrosis (4.52 ± 0.22%), with enhanced MSC retention (37.30 ± 16.10 MSCs/mm²) compared to cell-only delivery.

Conclusions:

• Alginate hydrogels effectively enhance MSC retention and therapeutic efficacy for liver regeneration in cirrhotic rats.
• This approach significantly improves liver growth and reduces fibrosis, addressing limitations of current regenerative strategies.
• MSC-loaded hydrogels represent a promising therapeutic strategy for liver regeneration and treating liver diseases, potentially benefiting cancer patients awaiting surgery.