This technology is an artificial liver tissue model featuring a 3D network of interconnected microchannels within a biocompatible hydrogel, encapsulating hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and endothelial cells. By perfusing fluid through these channels, cells can be maintained in a 3D environment that closely mimics physiological conditions.
While there is a growing demand to replace animal testing in cosmetic and pharmaceutical development, there is currently no in vitro liver system capable of reproducing and predicting pathological phenomena as effectively as animal models. Previous attempts to create 3D liver models have been limited by the difficulty of replicating complex vascular network structures to supply nutrients to internal cells.
This technology accounts for the diffusion limits of biological blood vessels by designing channel spacing within 200 ㎛, ensuring that substances reach cells deep within the structure. By perfusing disease-inducing components such as fatty acids, it can be utilized as an artificial model for liver diseases like fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. It can be applied to hepatotoxicity assessment of drug candidates, liver disease mechanism research, and animal-alternative testing for cosmetic ingredients, allowing for the acquisition of human-relevant response data while reducing the use of laboratory animals.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the development of implantable 3D vascular network chips for regenerative therapy and disease modeling.
WO2020-197326A1
