Liver diseases are generally difficult to treat, and many potential new drugs fail during development.

Most research for new treatments often rely on laboratories creating ‘models’ – of cells or tissues that accurately mimic the complex functions and structure of human liver.

The liver is difficult to create models for, especially its microvascular system (small blood vessels), which plays a crucial role in maintaining liver health and is often involved in disease development.

ARDAT researchers at Mimetas have created an advanced liver model incorporating liver cells (hepatocytes), endothelial cells (which form blood vessels), and stellate cells (involved in liver function and disease), to better understand the liver’s microvascular system, which is vital for liver health and disease development.

In this model, the endothelial cells naturally organise into tiny blood vessel networks, while hepatocytes align to create liver-like structures. This model can simulate fatty liver disease and fibrosis (scarring), and it responds to drugs known to treat these conditions.

Our design of the model means it allows for lots of drugs to be tested at once, which could potentially enhance the success rate for new liver disease treatments.

The model was developed using a system called the ‘microfluidic platform OrganoPlate’. You can read more in the scientific paper here.