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Hollow fiber bioartificial liver utilizing collagen‐entrapped porcine hepatocyte spheroids
Author(s) -
Wu Florence J.,
Friend Julie R.,
Lazar Arye,
Mann Henry J.,
Remmel Rory P.,
Cerra Frank B.,
Hu WeiShou
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0290(19961005)52:1<34::aid-bit4>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - spheroid , bioartificial liver device , hepatocyte , chemistry , albumin , tissue engineering , viability assay , biomedical engineering , cell , biochemistry , medicine , in vitro
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 our hybrid device. Confocal microscopy indicated high viability of spheroids entrapped into cylindrical collagen gel. Entrapment of spheroids alone into collagen gel showed reduced ability to contract collagen gel. By mixing spheroids with dispersed cells, the extent of collagen gel contraction was increased. Hepatocyte spheroids collagen‐entrapped into BAL devices were maintained for over 9 days. Assessment of albumin synthesis and ureagenesis within a spheroid‐entrapment BAL indicated higher or at least as high activity on a per‐cell basis compared to a dispersed hepatocyte‐entrapment BAL device. Clearance of 4‐methylumbelliferone to its glucuronide was detected throughout the culture period as a marker of phase II conjugation activity. A spheroid‐entrapment bioartificial liver warrants further studies for potential human therapy. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.