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SiO 2 Entrapment of Animal Cells: Liver‐Specific Metabolic Activities in Silica‐Overlaid Hepatocytes
Author(s) -
Muraca Maurizio,
Vilei Maria Teresa,
Zanusso Gian Eros,
Ferraresso Chiara,
Boninsegna Sara,
Dal Monte Renzo,
Carraro Paolo,
Carturan Giovanni
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1525-1594.2002.06924.x
Subject(s) - urea , hepatocyte , chemistry , silicon dioxide , metabolism , albumin , entrapment , bioartificial liver device , mesoporous silica , ammonia , viability assay , membrane , bilirubin , silica gel , biochemistry , drug metabolism , cell , chromatography , biophysics , chemical engineering , mesoporous material , catalysis , biology , endocrinology , in vitro , medicine , surgery , engineering
Rat hepatocytes in a collagen‐gel sandwich configuration were exposed to silicon alkoxides in a gas phase, yielding a 0.05 to 0.15 μm porous silica layer on the gel surface. Cell viability was unaffected by the procedure. After 24 h, bilirubin conjugation, ammonia removal, urea synthesis, and diazepam metabolism were unaffected by the procedure. However, both the ammonia removal rate and diazepam metabolism were increased after 48 hr, whereas urea synthesis was unaffected. These data indicate that silica overlay allows efficient metabolic activity of collagen‐gel entrapped hepatocytes. The fact that the K M of bilirubin conjugation was unaffected by the presence of the silica membrane suggests that the transport of albumin‐bound substrates is not decreased. The enhancement in some metabolic activities found 48 h after the entrapment procedure may be the result of favorable changes in the hepatocyte microenvironment. These characteristics might be useful for the development of organotypical bioartificial liver devices.