Attempts are being made to grow liver - an extremely complicated organ - in the laboratory. This rather intricate process involves the arranging of different types of cells on a synthetic scaffold or mesh
THE liver, a dark red gland situated in the
upper right side of the abdomen, performs a wide range of important functions like secretion of bile (important
for the digestion of fat) and the conversion of sugars into glycogen. Due to the
complex nature of the functions performed by it, its structure is also
extremely complicated with different
types of cells arranged in a three dimensional pattern (Science, Vol 270, No
5234).
Tissue engineering is a field which
involves the developing and growing of
tissues like skin and cartilage in the lab.
These are used as possible replacements
for damaged tissues. The field is about a
decade old and has most recently tried
creating liver tissue.
Growing skin and cartilage is comparatively simple as these consist of just
one or two types of cells arranged on a
synthetic polymer scaffold or mesh. The mesh in turn is made up of a protein,
collagen. However, a laboratory-grown
liver would involve an extremely
sophisticated process because a number
of cells have to be arranged and grown
in a particular way.
Chemical engineer Linda Griffith
Chime from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MTT), LISA, has designed a
scaffold called 'heptameters' that attract
liver cells and rejects other types of cells.
Others ire attempting to grow nerve
cells on similar lines in the hope that the
repair of damaged nerves or the creation
of synthetic blood vessels would be possible. Researchers are also exploring the
possibilities of growing other tissues like
bone, tendon, intestine and heart valves
in the laboratory.
Teflon fabric mesh is being used in
the process because it is considered to be
fairly safe for biological implants. A pattern made on it guides neuritis (the cell
arms which carry nerve impulses over
gaps caused in the central and peripheral nervous systems by illness or accident). The pattern is made with the protein lamina (which acts as a guide and
blinds nerve cells). The Polymer mesh is
covered with a nickel mask and is
exposed to hot ionised gas which
penetrates the nickel and converts
fluorine atoms to active hydra groups.
These active groups then act as links
to which reposed sequences called
YIGSR sequences are attached. The
researchers are now trying to roll this
modified fabric into tubes that can be
wrapped around damaged nerves in the
body.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.