Galactose-carrying polymers as extracellular matrices for liver tissue engineering

C. S. Cho, S. J. Seo, I. K. Park, S. H. Kim, T. H. Kim, T. Hoshiba, I. Harada, T. Akaike

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

158 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays important roles in tissue engineering because cellular growth and differentiation, in the two-dimensional cell culture as well as in the three-dimensional space of the developing organism, require ECM with which the cells can interact. Especially, the bioartificial liver-assist device or regeneration of the liver-tissue substitutes for liver tissue engineering requires a suitable ECM for hepatocyte culture because hepatocytes are anchorage-dependent cells and are highly sensitive to the ECM milieu for the maintenance of their viability and differentiated functions. Galactose-carrying synthetic ECMs derived from synthetic polymers and natural polymers bind hepatocytes through a receptor-mediated mechanism, resulting in enhanced hepatocyte functions. Attachment and functions of hepatocytes were affected by physico-chemical properties including ECM geometry as well as the type, density and orientation of galactose. Also, cellular environment, medium composition and dynamic culture system influenced liver-specific functions of hepatocytes beside ECM.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)576-585
Number of pages10
JournalBiomaterials
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006 Feb

Keywords

  • Asialoglycoprotein receptors
  • Extracellular matrix
  • Galactose
  • Hepatocyte
  • Tissue engineering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Biophysics
  • Biomaterials
  • Mechanics of Materials

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