Despite recent advances in biomaterial science, there is yet no culture system that supports long-term culture expansion of human adult hepatocytes, while preserving continued function. Previous studies suggested that acellular liver extracellular matrix (ECM), employed as a substrate, improved proliferation and function of liver cells. Here we investigated whether extracts prepared from acellular liver ECM (liver ECM extract, LEE), or from whole (fresh) liver tissue (liver tissue extract, LTE), could be combined with collagen Type I, hyaluronic acid (HA), or heparin-conjugated HA (HP) hydrogels to enhance survival and functional output of primary human hepatocytes. The liver-specific semi-synthetic ECMs (sECMs) were prepared by incorporating LEE or LTE into the gel matrices. Subsequently, primary human hepatocytes were maintained in sandwich-style hydrogel cultures for 4 weeks. Progressive increase in hepatocyte metabolism was observed in all HA and HP groups. Hepatocytes cultured in HA and HP hydrogels containing LEE or LTE synthesized and secreted steady levels of albumin and urea and sustained cytochrome p450-dependent drug metabolism of ethoxycoumarin. Collectively, these results indicate that customized HA hydrogels with liver-specific ECM components may be an efficient method for expansion human hepatocytes in vitro for cell therapy and drug and toxicology screening purposes.

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Oxygen generating biomaterials represent a new trend in regenerative medicine that aims to generate and supply oxygen at the site of requirement, to support tissue healing and regeneration. To enhance the healing of dermal wounds, we have developed a highly portable, in situ oxygen generating wound dressings that uses sodium percarbonate (SPO) and calcium peroxide (CPO) as chemical oxygen sources. The dressing continuously generated oxygen for more than 3 days, after which it was replaced. In the in vivo testing on porcine full-thickness porcine wound model, the SPO/CPO dressing showed enhanced wound healing during the 8 week study period. Quantitative measurements of wound healing related parameters, such as wound closure, reepithelialization, epidermal thickness and collagen content of dermis showed that supplying oxygen topically using the SPO/CPO dressing significantly accelerated the wound healing. An increase in neovascularization, as determined using Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD31 staining, was also observed in the presence of SPO/CPO dressing. This novel design for a wound dressing that contains oxygen generating biomaterials (SPO/CPO) for supplying topical oxygen, may find utility in treating various types of acute to chronic wounds.