Background: Despite the number of patients with terminal stage liver disease is increasing, organ availability is still limited. Hepatocyte transplantation is a possible alternative to organ transplantation. We herein report a novel method to cryopreserve rat hepatocytes using thermos-reversible gelatin polymer (TGP), and their successful transplantation. 

Materials and Methods: Hepatocytes harvested from SD rat were isolated and microencapsulated using TGP. They were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Defrost hepatocytes were decapsulated, cultured and transplanted in the rat spleen. 

Results: The cell viability was 71.2±2.3%. Cryopreserved hepatocytes maintained their physiological function, and albumin production after transplantation. 

Conclusion: A novel cryopreservation method of isolated rat hepatocyte using Thermo-reversible Gelatin Polymer and successful transplantation of decapsulated hepatocytes were reported.