Scientists have developed a way to make liver repair cells coated with natural sugar to make the liver repair cells “more sticky”, which could provide an alternative to organ transplants for patients with severe liver disease.
This technology solves a key problem in regenerative medicine: therapeutic cells are often not able to stay long enough to repair damaged tissue. Researchers at the University of Birmingham wrapping liver progenitor cells (HPCs) in molecules such as hyaluronic acid and alginate can greatly improve cell adhesion without genetic modification.
Stickiness issues
HPC can be converted into functional hepatocytes and helps regenerate damaged tissue. However, when doctors inject these cells into patients, most people can wash off before existing liver tissue is attached. It’s like trying to mend a leaky boat while the water keeps pushing the repair material away.
“Liver transplantation is the only option for many serious liver diseases, but there are not enough donor livers,” explained Dr. Maria Chiara Arno, who led the study. “This approach could potentially help many patients with liver disease by making cell therapy more effective.”
How sugar-coated works
The team used a process called metabolic oligosaccharide engineering (MOE) to connect polysaccharides to the cell surface. These sugar molecules, like molecular Velcro, help cells grasp the surrounding environment.
Major improvements including coated cells:
- Enhanced diffusion and formation of adhesive structures
- Integrin production increases (proteins that help cells attach)
- Preferential binding of specific extracellular matrix proteins
- Stronger attachment to endometrial cells of the blood vessels
- Better integration with 3D liver tissue model
Temporary enhancement, lasting benefits
The sugar coating is designed to be temporary and lasts long enough to build itself after transplantation. This timing is crucial – the coating helps the cells settle without interfering with their long-term function.
Laboratory tests confirmed that coated HPCs maintain the ability to differentiate into mature hepatocytes and produce essential proteins. The cells have no signs of damage or dysfunction during coating.
Testing of life organization model
The researchers tested the sticky cells of advanced 3D liver microanimals that mimicked human organ conditions. When applied to these mini liver models, coated HPCs showed significantly higher adhesion rates compared to uncoated cells.
The team also examined how coated cells interact with endothelial cells, which line up blood vessels throughout the liver. This interaction is crucial because the therapeutic cells must navigate the vascular system to reach the damaged area.
Click Chemical Innovation
A significant technical detail involves the use of “click chemistry”, an exact molecular linking method that won the 2022 Nobel Prize. This approach allows researchers to attach sugar molecules to cells through specific chemical reactions that work like molecular snapshots, ensuring a uniform coating without damaging the cells.
Click-mediated functionalization produces uniform surface modifications, meaning that each unit gets consistent coating coverage. This uniformity may be essential for clinical applications where treatment standardization is important.
Beyond genetic modification
“Our approach avoids genetic modifications, making it easier to use in clinics,” Arno noted. Traditional approaches often require altering cellular DNA, which can cause safety issues and regulatory barriers.
The icing technology may be used with other therapeutic cell types. The researchers plan to study its impact on immune responses and long-term cellular health in organisms.
As liver disease affects millions of people worldwide and the waiting list for transplants grows longer, this sticky solution may help more patients receive effective treatment without surgery. The study appeared in Communication Biology.
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