Creation of iPS-derived Hepatocyte-based Therapeutic Modality Using Liver Micro-organoids

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670587
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General surgery
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: OHASHI KAZUO 大阪大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 教授 (40364062)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MIZUGUCHI Hiroyuki 大阪大学, 薬学研究科, 教授 (50311387) ; YAMADA Masumi 千葉大学, 工学研究科, 准教授 (30546784)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 人工臓器学 / 細胞療法 / 組織工学 / 再生医療 / 肝細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this project was to create several fundamental technologies that allow us to create cell-loaded transplantable devices that could be used for cell-based therapies toward liver diseases. The fundamental concept is that cells will be localized after transplantation, instead of scattering the cells after conventional cell infusion-based transplantation procedures.
Hepatocytes are loaded into ultra-thin (<200micrometer in diameter) alginate micro-fibers using micro-fluidic devices and microfluidic technologies for creating liver micro-organoids. We have confirmed liver functions at considerable levels of the liver micro-organoids made of HepG2 cells or iPS-derived hepatocytes with non-parenchymal cells. We have also confirmed that the liver micro-organoids were durable for transplantation procedures on a mouse transplantation experiments.

Free Research Field

消化器外科　再生医療