fig2

Figure 2. (A) Timeline of liver organoid culture and differentiation and the subsequent exposure; (B-E) Construction and characterization of HP and HC organoids. (B) Bright-field images of the HP organoid (Day 0) and the HC organoids cultured on Day 15 and Day 18, respectively; (C) Histological characterization (H&E staining) and (D) qPCR characterization of HP and differentiated HC organoids; as well as (E) Liver function characterization of HP and differentiated HC organoids. For (D), statistical comparisons between two groups were performed using Student’s t-test. For (E), multiple-group comparisons were performed using ordinary one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test, with the corresponding HP group serving as the control. ^**P < 0.01; ^***P < 0.001. All bright-field images were acquired at 4× magnification with a 500 μm scale bar. “ns” indicates not significant (P > 0.05). Error bars represent the standard deviation. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 4 biological replicates, measured values of the original data points). HP: Hepatic progenitor; HC: hepatocyte; H&E: hematoxylin and eosin; qPCR: quantitative polymerase chain reaction; ANOVA: analysis of variance; SD: standard deviation; MOF: metal–organic framework; AFP: alpha-fetoprotein; ALB: albumin; GPT/ALT: alanine aminotransferase; GOT/AST: aspartate aminotransferase.