Abstract
A xenogeneic hollow fiber bioreactor utilizing collagen-entrapped dispersed hepatocytes has been developed as an extracorporeal bioartificial liver (BAL) for potential treatment of acute human fulminant hepatitis. Prolonged viability, enhanced liver-specific functions, and differentiated state have been observed in primary porcine hepatocytes cultivated as spheroids compared to dispersed hepatocytes plated on a monolayer. Entrapment of spheroids into the BAL can potentially improve performance over the existing device. Therefore, studies were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing spheroids as the functionally active component of the hybrid device. Confocal microscopy indicated high viability of spheroids entrapped into cylindrical collagen gel.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 34-44 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Biotechnology and bioengineering |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 5 1996 |
Keywords
- albumin synthesis
- bioartificial liver
- bioreactor
- collagen
- glucuronidation
- hepatocyte spheroid
- hollow fiber
- porcine hepatocyte
- ureagenesis
