MIT engineers have developed "mini livers" designed to be injected into the body, offering a potential lifeline for thousands of patients awaiting liver transplants or those too ill for surgery. As announced by the MIT School of Engineering, these "mini livers" could "take over the functions of the failing liver," providing crucial support. This innovative approach, detailed in the journal Cell Biomaterials, aims to restore liver function without invasive surgery, addressing the critical shortage of donor organs.
More than 10,000 Americans are currently on a waitlist for a liver transplant, with many unable to receive one due to organ scarcity or health complications preventing major surgery. The human liver performs approximately 500 vital functions, making its failure life-threatening and a significant challenge for medical treatment. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's breakthrough offers a novel solution by creating functional "satellite livers" that can supplement existing liver function.
The technology involves injecting liver cells, specifically hepatocytes, alongside hydrogel microspheres and fibroblast cells. These microspheres are engineered to act like a liquid for injection but then regain a solid structure, providing a supportive environment for the cells to form stable tissue grafts and connect with the host's blood vessels. Sangeeta Bhatia, the John and Dorothy Wilson Professor at MIT, is the senior author of the study, with MIT postdoc Vardhman Kumar as the lead author.
In preclinical tests conducted on mice, these injected mini livers remained viable and functional for at least two months, successfully producing enzymes and proteins vital for liver function. "We think of these as satellite livers. If we could deliver these cells into the body, while leaving the sick organ in place, that would provide booster function," stated Professor Bhatia. The study demonstrated that new blood vessels grew into the graft area, ensuring the hepatocytes remained healthy and operational.
This injectable therapy could serve as a direct alternative for patients ineligible for surgical transplantation or act as a "bridge to transplantation," providing crucial support until a donor organ becomes available. The non-surgical nature of the injection, guided by ultrasound, also means that additional grafts could be easily administered if needed, offering a less invasive and more flexible treatment option compared to repeated surgeries. Vardhman Kumar further explained, "The barriers to do that are much less with this injectable technology than undergoing another surgery."
A primary challenge remains the body's immune response, which would likely necessitate immunosuppressive drugs for patients, similar to current organ transplant recipients. However, the MIT team is actively exploring solutions, including developing "stealthy" hepatocytes that can evade immune detection or using the hydrogel spheres to deliver immunosuppressants locally. This ongoing research aims to make the therapy safer and more widely applicable for long-term use.
