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Hepatic cell encapsulation using a decellularized liver scaffold

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Abstract

Purpose

To improve effect of liver disease treatment, tissue engineering approach such as direct hepatocyte injection has been investigated. Encapsulation, mixing cells and biomaterials to enclose cells within a biomaterial capsule, is commonly used to deliver cells into the body. Many kinds of biomaterials including natural and artificial materials have been used. The capsule must have biocompatibility and microstructure for cell culture, survival and proliferation as well as cell function and therapeutic effects. However, most biomaterials used for encapsulation have low biocompatibility, insufficient constituents and an unsuitable 3-dimensional structure. To solve these problems, we performed encapsulation using a decellularized liver scaffold (DCLS) with a native extracellular matrix (ECM) and natural porous microstructure including vasculature.

Methods

DCLS was prepared with 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate under agitation and 2 mm2 sized DCLS pieces were sterilized with peracetic acid (25.6 µl/10 ml) for 24 hours. Histological analysis showed that the DCLS had native ECM, liver specific major architecture and blood vessel structure but no cells. For cell encapsulation, hepG2 cells were injected into DCLS pieces with a syringe and cultured for 5 days.

Results

The cells survived and formed a cell mass with a liver ECM microstructure inside the DCLS capsules. The encapsulation status was similar to capsules formed by current encapsulation techniques.

Conclusions

DCLS can be used to make an encapsulation cell delivery system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stem Cell Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea

    Jinn Hoon Ghim, Kamal Hany Hussein, Kyung-Mee Park & Heung Myong Woo

  2. College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea

    Kamal Hany Hussein, Kyung-Mee Park & Heung Myong Woo

  3. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Renal Division, Harvard Medical School, Chuncheon, South Korea

    Heung Myong Woo

Authors
  1. Jinn Hoon Ghim
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  2. Kamal Hany Hussein
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Correspondence to Heung Myong Woo.

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Ghim, J.H., Hussein, K.H., Park, KM. et al. Hepatic cell encapsulation using a decellularized liver scaffold. Biomed. Eng. Lett. 5, 58–64 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-015-0176-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-015-0176-0

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