Liver Models
High-Fidelity 2D and 3D Scaffolds for Hepatocyte Functionality
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Spheroid formation in 3D gels
Improved hepatocytes differentiation model
3D LIVER CANALICULI ASSAY
Spheroid formation in 3D gels
4Dcell technology
SmartGels Coverslip
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Identification, quantification and analysis of bile canaliculi
Standard culture limitation
Cultured in a 2D environment, cells loose rapidly their phenotypic expression and their functions.
3D liver canaliculi assay
A 3D environment is more relevant for cell culture because it enables to reflect in vivo physiology of cells.
4Dcell offers soft 3D gels for the fulfilment of a cell culture enabling spheroid formation to better mimic in vivo conditions.
Example
Accumulation of F-actin, MRP2 and MDR1, specific markers of the canalicular plasma membrane, have been detected in low-density HepaRGTM cultures using wood-derived nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) and hyaluronan-gelatin (HG) hydrogels after spheroid formation. It has been compared to a 2D cell culture where the activity of MRP2 and MDR1 is lower.
Spheroid formation in a soft substrate versus flat substrate
2D LIVER CANALICULI ASSAY
Improved hepatocytes differentiation model
2D LIVER CANALICULI ASSAY
4Dcell technology
SmartPattern Technology
Read-outs
Observation/quantification of biliary canaliculi
Standard culture limitation
The process of differentiation of HepaRG™ into hepatocytes is long, as it takes approximately two weeks to reach the necessary confluency of cells. In addition to this, as the cells are randomly organized, bile caniculae formation between cells is difficult to visualize and quantify.
Liver canaliculi assay
Cells are cultured in adhesive patterned substrates, having optimal sizes and shapes which leads to the organized formation of biliary caniculae between cells. This enables their easy observation/quantification.
Example
Organization of HepaRG cells after two days of culture (a) in line micropatterns. Observation of bile caniculae (bright) formed in between hepatocytes differentiated from HepaRG (b).
