A novel evaluation system for whole-organ-engineered liver graft by ex vivo application to a highly reproducible hepatic failure rat model.

In recent years, studies on liver graft construction using the decellularized liver as a template for transplantation therapy have attracted much attention. However, the therapeutic effect of constructed liver grafts in hepatic failure has not been evaluated. Therefore, we aimed to develop a novel evaluation system demonstrating the curative effect of a constructed liver graft in animals with hepatic failure.

Liver-specific extracellular matrix hydrogel promotes liver-specific functions of hepatocytes in vitro and survival of transplanted hepatocytes in vivo.

A solubilized liver-specific extracellular matrix (L-ECM) substratum was obtained by decellularization of porcine liver using Triton X-100 and pepsin treatments. The L-ECM was able to immobilize hepatocyte growth factor at a high efficiency of 87%. L-ECM gelled spontaneously in a physiologically neutral environment.