--- title: "Injectable “satellite livers” could offer an alternative to liver transplantation" url: https://daily.dev/posts/injectable-satellite-livers-could-offer-an-alternative-to-liver-transplantation-6pxnnqf8c source_url: https://news.mit.edu/2026/injectable-satellite-livers-could-offer-alternative-liver-transplantation-0303 type: article source: "MIT News" published: 2026-03-03T16:32:21.947Z updated: 2026-03-03T16:32:44.110Z tags: ["mit"] reading_time: 5 upvotes: 0 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Injectable “satellite livers” could offer an alternative to liver transplantation **[MIT News](https://daily.dev/sources/mit)** · 5 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary MIT engineers have developed injectable "satellite livers" — clusters of hepatocytes combined with hydrogel microspheres — that can be injected into the body without surgery and take over key liver functions. In mouse studies, the grafts remained viable for at least eight weeks, forming connections with nearby blood vessels and secreting liver proteins. The microspheres act as a liquid during injection but solidify in the body, creating a stable niche for the cells. Fibroblast cells are co-injected to support hepatocyte survival and vascularization. The technology could serve as a long-term treatment for chronic liver disease or as a bridge to transplantation for the 10,000+ Americans on liver transplant waitlists. Future work aims to reduce the need for immunosuppressive drugs by engineering immune-evasive hepatocytes or delivering immunosuppressants locally via the microspheres. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Engineered “mini livers” could be injected as an alternative to transplantation](https://daily.dev/posts/engineered-mini-livers-could-be-injected-as-an-alternative-to-transplantation-nacmxkakx) · MIT Technology Review · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [New tissue models could help researchers develop drugs for liver disease](https://daily.dev/posts/new-tissue-models-could-help-researchers-develop-drugs-for-liver-disease-jigzglmtd) · MIT News · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [A startup 3D-printed kidney and liver tissue in space](https://daily.dev/posts/a-startup-3d-printed-kidney-and-liver-tissue-in-space-bxoev073t) · The Next Web · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Implantable islet cells could control diabetes without insulin injections](https://daily.dev/posts/implantable-islet-cells-could-control-diabetes-without-insulin-injections-pbsygkhpg) · MIT News · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Brain Implants Smaller Than Cells Can Be Injected Into Veins](https://daily.dev/posts/brain-implants-smaller-than-cells-can-be-injected-into-veins-kf846x69w) · Singularity Hub · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#mit](https://daily.dev/tags/mit) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/injectable-satellite-livers-could-offer-an-alternative-to-liver-transplantation-6pxnnqf8c)