Injectable Liver: A Novel Approach Using FibrinGel as a Matrix for Culture and IntrahepaticTransplantation of Hepatocytes
TISSUE ENGINEERINGVolume 11, Number 11/12, 2005
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/ten.2005.11.1718

In this paper, the researchers tried to focus on cell transplantation and tissue engineering techniques with liver cells as experimental therapies for some liver diseases. They made fibrin-based gel matrix as carrier for hepatocytes in culture. Then they developed a direct injection technique to take hepatocytes harvested from rats. After cell isolation, they did PKH26 labeling. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used as organ donor and recipients. For cell transplantation, a minilaparotomy was performed; the cell-matrix mixture was injected directly to the organ. After different time harvest, animal were killed and liver were removed and to take histological investigation. DNA quantification was preformed and cell numbers showed the viability. In another hand, they did RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and PCR (RT-PCR). The explanted liver tissue was snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Cytospins, fixtion, histology, and immunohistochemistry were preformed on the tissue. In the end, statistical analysis provide the results.

From the experiments they did above, they drew some results. Cell numbers were assessed by DNA content, they showed the viability of the cells is good, which means fibrin matrix is an appropriate environment for hepatocytes. Fluorescence microscopy of the liver was performed to identified PKH26 labeled cells. RT-PCR and IH showed preservation of hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells into the host liver. Direct injection technique of the fibrin gel-immobilized hepatocytes is technically feasible. They concluded that fibrin gel immobilization is an good tool for develop tissue engineering artificial liver system. They also discussed the fibrin glue as a matrix supportive of hepatocytic differentiation, using fibrin glue as a carrier for injectable liver, and remolding of liver tissue after injection of fibrin-hepatocyte mixture.

I chose this paper, since it’s really similar to what we are doing in the final project. These German researchers used fibrin gel as matrix, we did use agarose gel to culture cells. They did future steps to seed the culture into rats and gave a normal better modeling environment, which is more worth us to think about. We are performing most of their cell analysis techniques, which we can watch as references such as RT-PCR, Cell counting and immunohistochemistry. We can do a lot of comparison and contracts between our projects and theirs. Their results are good, which mean other gel than collagen can work with liver cells. This gives us motivation to see our result on agarose gel. In the end, their discussions are also very advisable.