Constructing a platform for whole-organ tissue-engineered liver

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01732
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 27040:Biofunction and bioprocess engineering-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Ijima Hiroyuki 九州大学, 工学研究院, 教授 (10274515)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: オルガノイド / 臓器工学的肝臓 / ハイブリッドオルガノイド / つなぐ仕組み

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A functional gel particle that is biodegradable and capable of immobilizing and releasing growth factors has been developed. A novel organoid formation technology called hybrid organoids has been developed, consisting of these gel particles and co-cultured cells. This enabled the construction of organoids using primary hepatocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and mesenchymal stem cells as components. Furthermore, by using a decellularized organ template, a "connecting mechanism" between micro-sized organoids and macro-structures (organ structures) was realized, and an organ engineered liver was constructed. This novel construct successfully expressed liver-related genes in in vitro and in vivo transplantation experiments. A technology for constructing an organ-engineered liver based on organoids has been developed.

Free Research Field

生物化学工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

機能性ゲル粒子と細胞群からなるハイブリッドオルガノイド技術とによって精緻な血管網構造を有する脱細胞化臓器鋳型を組み合わせた実用的な高機能性の臓器工学的肝臓を構築する技術開発である。これにより、現在研究開発に閉塞感がある臓器工学的肝臓構築研究の飛躍的発展に寄与することが期待できる。さらに、本概念は他の臓器工学的グラフト開発への展開が可能であり、再生医工学、人工臓器および再生医療の領域の発展に寄与できるものである。