Hepregen is developing a unique, bioengineered microliver platform as a highly functional model of the liver in vivo. Microfabrication and tissue engineering technologies have been combined to create a precise, organized and miniaturized human liver model. Micropatterned industry-standard multiwell plates contain tiny colonies of organized liver cells surrounded by supportive stroma.
The Hepregen HepatoPac Platform
- Highly Organized Architecture
- Modular Design
- Long-term Stability and Functionality (several weeks)
- Miniaturized in an Industry- Standard Multiwell Format
- Broad Utility in Drug Development (drug discovery and toxicity screening)
- High Content, Predictive Data
- Cost Savings
- No Major Procedure Change
- No Specialized Instrumentation Required
- Minimal Compound Usage
The resulting liver structures result in a “high-fidelity tissue model” which closely mimics the functions of a human liver. The HepatoPac platform secretes albumin, synthesizes urea, and produces the enzymes necessary to break down drugs and toxins. The gene expression profiles of the microliver structures are very similar to those found in fresh liver cells. The tiny liver colonies are viable and functional for up to six weeks (human model) or ten weeks (rodent models) in vitro. The HepatoPac platform can be created with human and animal (rat, mouse, monkey) liver cells in multiwell plates, up to 96-well industry-standard formats. Additional in vitro animal liver model systems, such as dog and guinea pig, are under development.