Clinical Applications: Liver Transplantation

NucleoCapture® for Donor Liver Perfusion

There is significant need to improve utilization of existing donor livers for transplants – up to 20% of listed patients die whilst awaiting a liver graft. Normothermic machine perfusion is a mainstream solution improving liver use and lowering post-transplant risks.

NucleoCapture® mode of action

Same as in lung grafts during normothermic machine perfusion NucleoCapture® effectively removes NETs and other chromatin associated molecular patterns from liver graft preventing microcirculatory collapse and inflammation.

Preclinical development

In preclinical studies heavily damaged porcine liver grafts were treated with using OrganOx metra® normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) combined with NucleoCapture®. NucleoCapture® efficiently reconditions heavily damaged porcine liver grafts making them suitable for transplantation and almost completely prevents liver reperfusion injury which is the main cause of graft dysfunction and mortality after liver transplantation.

Clinical development

Ongoing clinical studies of NucleoCapture® for liver perfusion (extended criteria human donor livers, ECD) in combination with OrganOx metra® normothermic machine perfusion are ongoing. Initial data shows that continuous in-line NucleoCapture® during NMP with OrganOx metra® significantly reduced perfusate NETs and other chromatin associated molecular patterns, decreased microclots, while maintaining high lactate clearance and recovering of the ECD liver physiology.