Purpose-driven biomaterials research in liver-tissue engineering.
Bottom-up engineering of microscale tissue ("microtissue") constructs to recapitulate partially the complex structure-function relationships of liver parenchyma has been realized through the development of sophisticated biomaterial scaffolds, liver-cell sources, and in vitro culture techniques. With regard to in vivo applications, the long-lived stem/progenitor cell constructs can improve cell engraftment, whereas the short-lived, but highly functional hepatocyte constructs stimulate host liver regeneration. With regard to in vitro applications, microtissue constructs are being adapted or custom-engineered into cell-based assays for testing acute, chronic and idiosyncratic toxicities of drugs or pathogens. Systems-level methods and computational models that represent quantitative relationships between biomaterial scaffolds, cells and microtissue constructs will further enable their rational design for optimal integration into specific biomedical applications.
National University of Singapore, MD9 #03-03, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore.
Abhishek
A
Ananthanarayanan
Balakrishnan Chakrapani
BC
Narmada
Xuejun
X
Mo
Michael
M
McMillian
Hanry
H
Yu
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D001672:Biocompatible Materials