A Novel Bioartificial Liver With Culture of Porcine Hepatocyte Aggregates Under Simulated Microgravity

Authors: Hochleitner, Boris¹; Hengster, Paul¹; Duo, Li¹; Bucher, Herwig¹; Klima, Günter²; Margreiter, Raimund¹

Source: Artificial Organs, Volume 29, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 58-66(9)

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Abstract:

An extracorporeal bioartificial liver device could provide vital support to patients suffering from acute liver failure. We designed a novel, customized bioreactor for use as a bioartificial liver (patent pending). The Innsbruck Bioartificial Liver (IBAL) contains aggregates of porcine hepatocytes grown under simulated microgravity. The culture vessel rotates around its longitudinal axis and is perfused by two independent circuits. The circuit responsible for exchange of plasma components with the patient consists of a dialysis tube winding spirally around the internal wall of the culture vessel. IBAL was evaluated in vitro. Viability tests showed sufficient viability of hepatocytes for up to 10 days. Cytologic examination of samples from the bioreactor showed liver cell aggregates. These were also examined by electron microscopy. A number of biochemical parameters were analyzed. In conclusion, cell culture is possible for at least 10 days in the IBAL system, organoid hepatocyte aggregates are formed and synthetic activity of the hepatocytes was demonstrated.

Keywords: Aggregates; Bioreactor; Liver support; Hybrid liver; Microgravity-based bioreactors; Rotating-wall vessel

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1594.2004.29014.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck University Hospital, and 2: Department of Histology and Molecular Cell Biology, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria.

Publication date: 2005-01-01