Taiwan institutes develop animal models to advance liver disease research

台灣研究所開發動物模型以推進肝病研究

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A team formed by National Central University, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University has developed a new animal model of liver fibrosis, aimed at advancing chronic liver disease research, CNA reported.

The model closely replicates the scarring process seen in human chronic liver diseases, offering researchers a platform to study the disease’s underlying mechanisms and evaluate potential treatments.

Lee Yu-hsiang (李宇翔), a professor from the Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering at National Central University, explained that liver diseases typically progress from fibrosis to cirrhosis and ultimately to liver cancer. He noted that fibrosis, which involves excessive scar tissue buildup in the liver due to chronic damage, is a critical early stage where intervention can prevent more severe conditions.

To support the research, the team also developed a nano-based drug carrier designed to deliver fibrosis-inducing agents directly to the liver in experimental animals, Lee said. This targeted system ensures that the drug is primarily released in the liver, minimizing damage to other organs and enhancing the accuracy of experimental results.

The carrier is made from materials that are well-tolerated by most humans and animals, with minimal side effects and is already widely used in the biomedical field. Lee added the team's research findings have been published in the journal Biomaterials Science.

According to National Central University, traditional methods for inducing liver fibrosis in animals, such as chemical toxin administration and surgical procedures, posed significant challenges. The chemical method carries potential carcinogenic risks, while surgery often results in high variability and mortality. Both techniques can leave animals too weakened for further drug testing.

The university added that direct injection of fibrosis-inducing drugs can cause the compounds to circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream, increasing the risk of damage to multiple organs.

The team's two innovations will be made available to pharmaceutical companies and medical research institutions to help speed up the development of new treatments for liver disease.