Enhanced hepatotoxicity assessment through encapsulated HepG2 spheroids in gelatin hydrogel matrices: Bridging the gap from 2D to 3D culture
- Authors
- Park, Se Yeon; Koh, Won-Gun; Lee, Hyun Jong
- Issue Date
- Sep-2024
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Keywords
- 3D cell culture; HepG2 spheroids; Gelatin hydrogel; Drug -induced liver injury (DILI); Hepatotoxicity assessment
- Citation
- European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, v.202
- Journal Title
- European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics
- Volume
- 202
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/gachon/handle/2020.sw.gachon/92114
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114417
- ISSN
- 0939-6411
1873-3441
- Abstract
- Conventional 2D drug screening often fails to accurately predict clinical outcomes. We present an innovative approach to improve hepatotoxicity assessment by encapsulating HepG2 spheroids in gelatin hydrogel matrices with different mechanical properties. Encapsulated spheroids exhibit sustained liver-specific functionality, enhanced expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes, and increased drug sensitivity compared to 2D cultures. The platform detects critical variations in drug response, with significant differences in IC50 values between 2D and spheroid cultures ranging from 1.3-fold to > 13-fold, particularly for acetaminophen. Furthermore, drugmetabolizing enzyme expression varies across hydrogel concentrations, suggesting a role for matrix mechanical properties in modulating hepatocyte function. This novel spheroid-hydrogel platform offers a transformative approach to hepatotoxicity assessment, providing increased sensitivity, improved prediction, and a more physiologically relevant environment. The use of such advanced in vitro models can accelerate drug development, reduce animal testing, and contribute to improved patient safety and clinical outcomes.
- Files in This Item
- There are no files associated with this item.
- Appears in
Collections - ETC > 1. Journal Articles
![qrcode](https://api.qrserver.com/v1/create-qr-code/?size=55x55&data=https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/gachon/handle/2020.sw.gachon/92114)
Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.