Fabrication of a decellularized liver matrix–based hepatic patch for the repair of CCl4-induced liver injury

This article primarily introduces a new treatment for liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. We developed a hepatic patch by combining decellularized liver matrix (DLM) with the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/heparin–complex and evaluated its restorative efficacy. In vitro prophylactic results, the HGF/heparin–DLM patches effectively mitigated CCl₄-induced hepatocyte toxicity and restored the cytotoxicity levels to the baseline levels by day 5. Furthermore, these patches restored albumin synthesis of injured hepatocytes to more than 70% of the normal levels within 5 days. In vitro therapeutic results, the urea synthesis of the injured hepatocytes reached 91% of the normal levels after 10 days of culture, indicating successful restoration of hepatic function by the HGF/heparin–DLM patches in both prophylactic and therapeutic models. In vivo results, HGF/heparin–DLM patches attached to the liver and gut exhibited a significant decrease in collagen content (4.44 times and 2.77 times, respectively) and an increase in glycogen content (1.19 times and 1.12 times, respectively) compared to the fibrosis group after 1 week, separately. In summary, liver function was restored and inflammation was inhibited through the combined effects of DLM and the HGF/heparin–complex in fibrotic liver. The newly designed hepatic patch holds promise for both in vitro and in vivo regeneration therapy and preventive health care for liver tissue engineering.