Researchers at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with InSphero AG, have developed a technique to coat hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) with natural polysaccharides like hyaluronic acid to improve adhesion to liver tissues without genetic modification. This sugar coating enhances the cells' stickiness, increasing their likelihood to remain and repair damaged liver tissue. Published in Communications Biology, the study highlights the potential of this method to provide surgery-free treatments for liver diseases, offering an alternative to organ transplantation by boosting the efficacy of cell therapies.