Reconstruction of Liver Organoid Using an Apatite-Fiber Scaffold, a Radial-Flow Bioreactor and FCL-4 Cells of Hepatocyte Model

Abstract

We have previously developed apatite-fiber scaffolds (AFSs) for bone tissue engineering using single-crystal apatite fibers and carbon beads. In the present investigation, we examined the possibility of reconstruction of a liver organoid via three-dimensional (3D) culture of hepatocytes using the AFSs and the radial-flow bioreactor (RFB), aiming to apply the scaffold as a matrix for regeneration of a real organ. FLC-4 cells were used as a model of hepatocyte. The cells were well-viable in the RFB settled with AFSs over a period for 28 d, compared with the cases of cellulose beads and apatite beads with high porosity of 85%. We conclude that the present AFS may be a promising scaffold for tissue engineering of liver.