Function of hepatocyte spheroids in bioactive microcapsules is enhanced by endogenous and exogenous hepatocyte growth factor.

ABSTRACT: The ability to maintain functional hepatocytes has important implications for bioartificial liver development, cell-based therapies, drug screening, and tissue engineering. Several approaches can be used to restore hepatocyte function in vitro, including coating a culture substrate with extracellular matrix (ECM), encapsulating cells within biomimetic gels (Collagen- or Matrigel-based), or co-cultivation with other cells. This paper describes the use of bioactive heparin-based core-shell microcapsules to form and cultivate hepatocyte spheroids. These microcapsules are comprised of an aqueous core that facilitates hepatocyte aggregation into spheroids and a heparin hydrogel shell that binds and releases growth factors. We demonstrate that bioactive microcapsules retain and release endogenou

SUBMITTER: Gwon K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10230170 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature