Overview
- In a Cell Biomaterials paper released today, MIT researchers report mouse grafts that maintained viability and liver protein output for the full eight‑week study window.
- The approach mixes hepatocytes with uniform hydrogel microspheres and supportive fibroblasts to form compact, stable structures after syringe delivery.
- Injected into perigonadal adipose tissue, the grafts became vascularized as host blood vessels grew into the site, supporting sustained cell function.
- Ultrasound guided precise placement and allowed noninvasive monitoring, with researchers noting potential delivery to sites such as the spleen or near the kidneys.
- The team frames the technology as a possible non‑surgical alternative or bridge to transplant, while acknowledging hurdles including immune rejection, durability, and scaling to human use.