Fetal liver cell-containing hybrid organoids improve cell viability and albumin production upon transplantation

• We prepared a growth factor-immobilizable gel.
• Sufficient angiogenesis was induced by the growth factor-immobilizable gel.
• FLCs had higher cell viability than hepatocytes in transplanted samples.
• Albumin concentrations increased in NAR blood after FLC transplantation.

Cell transplantation is a potential alternative for orthotopic liver transplantation because of the chronic donor shortage. Functional liver tissue is needed for cell transplantations. However, large functional liver tissue is difficult to construct because of the high oxygen consumption of hepatocytes. In our previous study, we developed a novel method to generate hybrid organoids. In this study, we used fetal liver cells (FLCs) to construct a hybrid organoid. Nucleus numbers, angiogenesis, and albumin production were measured in transplanted samples. Higher cell viability and larger liver tissue was found in FLC-containing samples than in hepatocyte-containing samples. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficiency of FLC-containing samples was evaluated by transplantation into Nagase analbuminemia rats. As a result, an increase in albumin concentration was found in rat blood. In summary, transplantation of a FLC-containing hybrid organoid is a potential approach for cell transplantation.