Cellularized biosynthetic microhydrogel polymers for intravascular liver tissue regeneration therapy

Stem cell therapy and tissue engineering strategies using cell aggregates and decellularized scaffolds for the rescue of liver failure

Liver failure is a lethal condition with hepatocellular dysfunction, and liver transplantation is presently the only effective treatment. However, due to the limited availability of donors and the potential immune rejection, novel therapeutic strategies are actively sought to restore the normal hepatic architectures and functions, especially for livers with inherited metabolic dysfunctions or chronic diseases. Although the conventional cell therapy has shown promising results, the direct infusion of hepatocytes is hampered by limited hepatocyte sources, poor cell viability, and engraftment. Hence, this review mainly highlights the role of stem cells and progenitors as the alternative cell source and summarizes the potential approaches based on tissue engineering to improve the delivery efficiency of cells. Particularly, the underlying mechanisms for cell therapy using stem cells and progenitors are discussed in two main aspects: paracrine effect and cell differentiation. Moreover, tissue-engineering approaches using cell aggregates and decellularized liver scaffolds for bioengineering of functional hepatic constructs are discussed and compared in terms of the potential to replicate liver physiological structures. In the end, a potentially effective strategy combining the premium advantages of stem cell aggregates and decellularized liver scaffolds is proposed as the future direction of liver tissue engineering and regeneration.

Advanced Biomaterials and Processing Methods for Liver Regeneration: State-of-the-Art and Future Trends

Liver diseases contribute markedly to the global burden of mortality and disease. The limited organ disposal for orthotopic liver transplantation results in a continuing need for alternative strategies. Over the past years, important progress has been made in the field of tissue engineering (TE). Many of the early trials to improve the development of an engineered tissue construct are based on seeding cells onto biomaterial scaffolds. Nowadays, several TE approaches have been developed and are applied to one vital organ: the liver. Essential elements must be considered in liver TE-cells and culturing systems, bioactive agents or growth factors (GF), and biomaterials and processing methods. The potential of hepatocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, and others as cell sources is demonstrated. They need engineered biomaterial-based scaffolds with perfect biocompatibility and bioactivity to support cell proliferation and hepatic differentiation as well as allowing extracellular matrix deposition and vascularization. Moreover, they require a microenvironment provided using conventional or advanced processing technologies in order to supply oxygen, nutrients, and GF. Herein the biomaterials and the conventional and advanced processing technologies, including cell-sheets process, 3D bioprinting, and microfluidic systems, as well as the future trends in these major fields are discussed.

Injectable PEGylated fibrinogen cell-laden microparticles made with a continuous solvent- and oil-free preparation method

A new methodology is reported for the continuous, solvent- and oil-free production of photopolymerizable microparticles containing encapsulated human dermal fibroblasts. A precursor solution of cells in photoreactive poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-fibrinogen (PF) polymer was transported through a transparent injector exposed to light irradiation before being atomized in a jet-in-air nozzle. Shear rheometry data revealed the crosslinking kinetics of the PF/cell solution, which was then used to determine the amount of irradiation required to partially polymerize the mixture just prior to atomization. The partially polymerized drops of PF/cells fell into a gelation bath for further crosslinking until fully polymerized hydrogel microparticles were formed. As the drops of solution exited the air-in-jet nozzle, their viscosity was designed to be sufficiently high so as to prevent rapid mixing and/or dilution in the gelation bath, but without undergoing complete gelation in the nozzle. Several parameters of this system were varied to control the size and polydispersity of the microparticles, including the cell density, the flow rate and the air pressure in the nozzle. The system was capable of producing cell-laden microparticles with an average diameter of between 88.1 to 347.1 μm, and a dispersity of between 1.1 and 2.4, depending on the parameters chosen. Varying the precursor flow rate and/or cell density was beneficial in controlling the size and polydispersity of the microparticles; all microparticles exhibited very high cell viability, which was not affected by these parameters. In conclusion, this dropwise photopolymerization methodology for preparing cell-laden microparticles is an attractive alternative to existing techniques that use harsh solvents/oils and offer limited control over particle size and polydispersity.