Encapsulated liver tissue
AssigneeMorphocell Technologies Inc.
InventorsMassimiliano Paganelli, Claudia Raggi, Ariella Shikanov
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides an encapsulated liver tissue that can be used in vivo to improve liver functions, in vitro to determine the hepatic metabolism and/or hepatotoxicity of an agent and ex vivo to remove toxic compounds from patients' biological fluid. The encapsulated liver tissue comprises at least one liver organoid at least partially covered with a biocompatible cross-linked polymer. Processes for making the encapsulated liver tissue are also provided.
Claims19
An encapsulated liver tissue comprising a plurality of liver organoids at least partially covered with a first biocompatible cross-linked polymer, wherein each of the liver organoids (i) comprise a cellular core comprising hepatic, mesenchymal and optionally endothelial cells, (ii) have a substantially spherical shape and (iii) have a relative diameter between about 50 μm and about 500 μm,
- wherein the encapsulated liver tissue comprises at least 250 liver organoids per cm3, and
- wherein the encapsulated liver tissue has a size between 5 mm and 10 cm.
A process for making an encapsulated liver tissue, the process comprising:
- combining and culturing in suspension hepatic and mesenchymal cells so as to obtain a plurality of liver organoids having (i) a cellular core comprising hepatic and mesenchymal cells, (ii) a substantially spherical shape, and (iii) a relative diameter between about 50 μm and about 500 μm;
- at least partially covering the plurality of liver organoids with a first biocompatible cross-linkable polymer;
- and
- cross-linking the plurality of liver organoids at least partially covered with the first biocompatible cross-linkable so as to obtain an encapsulated liver tissue comprising at least 250 liver organoids per cm3 and having a size between 5 mm and 10 cm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.