Injectable satellite livers could offer an alternative to liver transplantation
2 days ago
- #liver-disease
- #organ-transplant
- #biomedical-engineering
- Over 10,000 Americans with chronic liver disease await liver transplants, but donor shortages and health eligibility issues limit access.
- MIT engineers developed injectable 'mini livers' to support failing livers, tested successfully in mice for at least two months.
- The mini livers generate essential liver enzymes and proteins, functioning as 'satellite livers' to boost liver function without surgery.
- Hepatocytes, key liver cells, are combined with hydrogel microspheres to enhance survival and integration with host blood vessels.
- The injectable mixture includes fibroblast cells to support hepatocyte survival and promote blood vessel growth into the graft.
- Ultrasound guides the injection and monitors the implant's stability, with potential delivery sites including fatty tissue, spleen, or near kidneys.
- In mice, the grafts remained viable for eight weeks, secreting proteins and functioning similarly to natural liver cells.
- The technology could serve as a bridge to transplantation or a long-term treatment, reducing the need for multiple surgeries.
- Future research aims to develop immune-evasive hepatocytes or localized immunosuppressant delivery to avoid systemic drugs.