Fabrication of a decellularized liver matrix–based hepatic patch for the repair of CCl4‐induced liver injury

Abstract

AbstractThis article primarily introduces a new treatment for liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. We developed a hepatic patch by combining decellularized liver matrix (DLM) with the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/heparin–complex and evaluated its restorative efficacy. In vitro prophylactic results, the HGF/heparin–DLM patches effectively mitigated CCl4‐induced hepatocyte toxicity and restored the cytotoxicity levels to the baseline levels by day 5. Furthermore, these patches restored albumin synthesis of injured hepatocytes to more than 70% of the normal levels within 5 days. In vitro therapeutic results, the urea synthesis of the injured hepatocytes reached 91% of the normal levels after 10 days of culture, indicating successful restoration of hepatic function by the HGF/heparin–DLM patches in both prophylactic and therapeutic models. In vivo results, HGF/heparin–DLM patches attached to the liver and gut exhibited a significant decrease in collagen content (4.44 times and 2.77 times, respectively) and an increase in glycogen content (1.19 times and 1.12 times, respectively) compared to the fibrosis group after 1 week, separately. In summary, liver function was restored and inflammation was inhibited through the combined effects of DLM and the HGF/heparin–complex in fibrotic liver. The newly designed hepatic patch holds promise for both in vitro and in vivo regeneration therapy and preventive health care for liver tissue engineering.