An Improved Encapsulation Method for Cryopreserving Hepatocytes for Functional Transplantation Using a Thermo-reversible Gelation Polymer.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Thermo-reversible gelation polymer (TGP) can be converted into a gel state upon warming and liquid upon cooling. The present study aimed to demonstrate a new method for cryopreservation and encapsulation of rat hepatocytes using a TGP and their successful transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The isolated rat hepatocytes were microencapsulated using TGP, and stored in liquid nitrogen. After cryopreservation, hepatocytes were cultured. Moreover, hepatocytes were transplanted into the spleen without a TGP capsule. RESULTS: The viability of hepatocytes that were cryopreserved in TGP was 71.2±2.3%. The hepatocytes demonstrated adequate survival, maintained their hepatic function in culture, and expressed albumin after transplantation to the rat spleen. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a cryopreservation method of rat hepatocyte encapsulation using a TGP gel in the hydrogel state which subsequently allowed successful transplantation of unencapsulated hepatocytes in a sol state TGP gel at low temperature.