Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed injectable “mini livers” designed to support failing organs, offering a potential new treatment for patients with severe liver disease.
Researchers say the technology could eventually help thousands of people awaiting liver transplants by providing temporary or long-term support without the need for major surgery.
The team, led by biomedical engineer Sangeeta Bhatia, described the engineered tissues as “satellite livers” capable of performing key biological functions normally handled by the organ.
“If we could deliver these cells into the body while leaving the sick organ in place, that would provide booster function,” Bhatia said in a statement.
In experiments conducted on mice, the miniature grafts produced several enzymes and proteins typically generated by the liver and remained functional in the body for at least eight weeks.
The liver, the body’s largest internal organ, carries out around 500 essential tasks, including regulating blood chemistry, aiding clotting, and filtering toxins, drugs and bacteria with much of this work performed by specialised cells known as hepatocytes.
For more than a decade, Bhatia’s research group has been exploring ways to restore hepatocyte activity without relying on full organ transplantation.
Their latest approach combines hepatocytes with tiny hydrogel microspheres, water-absorbing polymer structures that help the cells cluster together and connect with nearby blood vessels once injected into the body.
Because the spheres behave like a liquid when tightly packed, the mixture can be delivered through a syringe and once inside the body, the material regains a more solid structure, allowing the cells to form a stable tissue graft.
The researchers also added fibroblasts, a type of supportive cell, to improve survival rates and encourage the growth of new blood vessels around the graft.
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According to biological engineer Vardhman Kumar, the microspheres create a supportive environment that allows the transplanted cells to integrate more efficiently with the body’s circulation.
“The new blood vessels formed right next to the hepatocytes, which is why they were able to survive.
"They were able to get the nutrients delivered right to them and function the way they’re supposed to,” Kumar said.
Using ultrasound guidance, the team injected the grafts into fat tissue in the abdomen of mice and monitored the implants over time.
Researchers say the same approach could potentially deliver the cells to other areas, including the spleen or near the kidneys.
The scientists believe the technology could eventually serve as an alternative to surgery or as a temporary support system for patients waiting for donor organs.
More than 10,000 people in the United States (US) are currently waiting for liver transplants, according to transplant registries, while donor organs remain in short supply.
In its current form, patients receiving the therapy would still require immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection.
However, researchers say future versions may use modified “stealth” cells capable of evading immune responses or hydrogel particles designed to release immunosuppressants directly at the injection site.
If successfully translated to human patients, the injectable grafts could provide a less invasive way to restore vital liver functions and extend survival for people with advanced liver disease.