Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
13:14
Normothermic Ex Vivo Liver Machine Perfusion in Mouse
Published on: September 25, 2023
4.5K
Reduction in Red Blood Cell Lysis by Polymer Intervention During Rodent Liver Normothermic Machine Perfusion
Emmanuella O Ajenu1,2, Manuela Lopera Higuita1,2, Alexandra Tchir1,2,3
1Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Transplantation Direct
|March 23, 2026
Summary
Poloxamer 188 and Ficoll PM70 reduce red blood cell hemolysis during normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) for liver preservation. While these agents protect liver cells, further research is needed to confirm their safety and efficacy for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Organ transplantation research
- Biomaterials science
- Hepatology
Background:
- Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) enhances donor liver preservation, especially for extended criteria and circulatory death donors.
- Hemolysis during NMP releases free hemoglobin, causing oxidative stress and endothelial injury, compromising graft viability.
- Poloxamer 188 (P188) and Ficoll PM70 are investigated as membrane-stabilizing agents to mitigate hemolysis in liver NMP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of P188 and Ficoll PM70 in reducing red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis during rodent liver NMP.
- To assess the impact of these agents on graft viability, hemodynamic stability, and liver injury markers.
- To determine the protective effects on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells.
Main Methods:
- Rodent livers underwent NMP with RBC-based perfusates containing P188 and/or Ficoll PM70, or a control.
- Hemolysis was quantified by measuring free hemoglobin concentration.
- Hemodynamic stability, liver injury markers, and histological analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- P188 and Ficoll PM70 significantly reduced hemolysis in livers from donation after brain death and warm ischemia models.
- The combination of P188 and Ficoll PM70 preserved liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in warm ischemia models.
- Reduced hemolysis did not translate to improved ex vivo machine perfusion parameters.
Conclusions:
- P188 and Ficoll PM70 show potential for reducing RBC hemolysis in NMP without compromising hemodynamics.
- Both agents improved liver sinusoidal endothelial cell preservation.
- Further studies are required to confirm efficacy and safety, as P188 may induce proinflammatory cytokines.
