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Kangstem Biotech CSO Professor Kyung-sun Kang’s Research Team Demonstrates Therapeutic Efficacy of a Vascularized Artificial Liver in an Animal Model of Liver Failure
10
2026.08
- Study Provides a Foundation for Developing Patient-Specific Liver Tissue for Transplantation, Published in a Prestigious Science Family Journal
A research team led by Professor Kyung-sun Kang of Seoul National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, who also serves as CSO of Kangstem Biotech, has successfully developed a functional artificial liver with a vascular network in collaboration with Professor Sung-hoon Kwon’s team and Professor Da-hyun Kim. The research team combined human iPSCs, decellularized scaffolds, and vascularization technology to create an artificial liver with structural and functional characteristics similar to those of a native liver, and confirmed improved liver function and therapeutic effects in an animal model of chronic liver failure.
The study is significant in that it addresses the vascularization challenge in artificial organ development, while also elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in artificial liver formation and applying these findings to improve its functionality.
The research findings were published online on August 6, 2026, in 『Science Advances』, a prestigious international scientific journal.
A shortage of donor organs makes it difficult for patients requiring liver transplantation to receive timely treatment, while insufficient vascularization remains a major challenge for the clinical application of artificial organs and organoid technologies.
The research team combined hepatocytes and vascular cells derived from human iPSCs and applied vascularization technology (VCA) to develop a vascularized artificial liver with a structure similar to that of a native liver, significantly improving its viability and functionality. In addition, through spatial transcriptomic analysis, the team identified key signals that enhance vascular formation and function and incorporated these findings into the manufacturing process. The study is significant in that it provides a foundational technology for improving artificial liver performance and supporting future patient-specific artificial organ development.
When the vascularized artificial liver was transplanted into an animal model of chronic liver failure, the artificial liver treated with both vascularization technology (VCA) and IGF2 demonstrated the most favorable outcomes. These findings demonstrate that vascularization is a critical factor in determining therapeutic efficacy. Although the study remains at the preclinical stage, it demonstrated the therapeutic potential of a transplantable artificial liver in an animal model.
Professor Kyung-sun Kang said, “To develop an artificial liver capable of replacing a native organ, it is essential not only to engineer liver cells but also to precisely organize blood vessels and establish functional vascular connections. This study is significant in that it presents both a technology for producing artificial livers incorporating vascular networks and the key regenerative mechanisms that regulate them. We expect this technology to be broadly applicable to various vascularized artificial organs, including kidneys, hearts, and pancreases.”