liver tissue engineering scaffold materials

Therefore, approaches to screen hepatocytes are of great biomedical importance. Hepatocytes-based screening can be used to characterize the metabolic fate of compounds and whether metabolism contributes to toxicity. The loss of liver functions such as detoxification, metabolism, and regulation causes life-threatening complications, including kidney failure, encephalopathy, cerebral edema, severe hypotension and susceptibility to infections culminating in multiple organ failure. The hepatocytes are usually the first cell types that are damaged upon hepatotoxic insult. In many cases, the hepatotoxicity is due to an impaired hepatocyte metabolism and conversion of inert and non-toxic compounds into highly reactive metabolites. A large amount of natural and synthetic chemicals are hepatotoxins. Hepatocyte-based hepatotoxicity testing is useful in the rapid screening of chemicals and in the mechanistic evaluation of toxicological phenomena. Exogenous and endogenous substances are detoxified in the liver by two main mechanisms, phase I and phase II biotransformation.

Detoxification is a critical liver-specific function. Alb and bile acids) and (g) detoxification. The main functions played by the liver include (a) bile production and secretion (b) excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs (c) metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates (d) enzyme activation (e) storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals (f) macromolecules and protein synthesis (i.e. Primary hepatocytes constitute 60–80% of the liver mass and play many important functions in our body. The lobule is consisting of a hexagonal row of hepatocytes. Each lobe is further divided into lobules, which are the functioning units of the liver.

The liver is the largest gland of the body, which normally weighs about 1.5 kg in adults and divided into a large right lobe and a smaller left lobe. This article reviews the most recent strategies to generate a high amount of mature hepatocyte-like cells and updates current knowledge on liver regenerative medicine. All of these strategies will help to facilitate the application of stem cells in human medicine.

The application of small molecules and micro-RNAs and genetic manipulation in favor of hepatic differentiation of distinct stem cells could also be exploited. These approaches include producing decellularized scaffolds from the liver organ, 3D bio-printing system, and nano-based 3D scaffolds to simulate the native liver microenvironment. Over the past years, considerable efforts have been directed toward liver regeneration aiming at developing new approaches and methodologies to enhance the transplantation process. In either way, liver transplantation is the only treatment option which is, however, hampered by the increasing scarcity of organ donor. Viral infection, trauma, carcinoma, alcohol misuse and inborn errors of metabolism are common causes of liver diseases are a severe known reason for leading to end-stage liver disease or liver failure. Liver, as a vital organ, is responsible for a wide range of biological functions to maintain homeostasis and any type of damages to hepatic tissue contributes to disease progression and death.

Liver tissue engineering scaffold materials