title: Hepatocyte aggregate culture technique for bioreactors in hybrid liver support systems.
abstract: Utilizing a modified culture technique for hepatocytes, a high performance suspension culture is possible in which hepatocytes spontaneously form cell aggregates. The aggregates of 20-100 cells have been histologically confirmed to hold a three-dimensional structure, they show a long-term external metabolism and a survival time comparable with standard adhesion cultures. This technique has several advantages in the construction of large scale bioreactors for hybrid liver support systems.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klöppel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schnoy
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001187:Artificial Organs; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar