Medical researchers advance stem cell treatments for liver cirrhosis

Medical researchers are advancing new methods to treat liver cirrhosis through stem cell technology and bioengineering.

In Vietnam, An Sinh Hospital and the Mekostem Stem Cell Bank are developing a multi-center research protocol to evaluate the use of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells to support the treatment of cirrhosis caused by Hepatitis B. This initiative aims to provide a safe and scientific application for a population where Hepatitis B infection rates exceed 10%.

In the United States, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing “miniature livers” that can be injected into fatty tissue. By combining hepatocytes with hydrogel microbeads and fibroblast cells, the researchers created a mixture that can be administered via a needle. In studies, these injected cells remained functional in mice for eight weeks, producing essential enzymes and proteins. The hydrogel beads act as a scaffold, helping the cells integrate with the circulatory system and survive within the host body.