Wyss Institute Develops Synthetic Biology Approach to Expand Liver Tissue In-Body
Researchers at the Wyss Institute, in collaboration with Boston University and MIT, have developed a novel approach to grow liver tissue in the body using synthetic biology and tissue engineering. The initiative, led by Christopher Chen and Sangeeta Bhatia, aims to implant small-scale liver constructs that can expand in the body post-engraftment. This method, named BOOST, involves rewiring gene expression in liver hepatocytes and fibroblast cells to trigger tissue growth after implantation. The research, published in Science Advances, demonstrates the potential to relieve metabolic burdens in damaged livers and bridge the gap until a transplant is available. The team successfully induced growth in engineered liver tissues implanted in mice, showing a significant increase in proliferation without adverse effects. 
