Microencapsulation of viable hepatocytes in HEMA-MMA microcapsules: a preliminary study.
Viable rat hepatocytes were encapsulated in a HEMA-MMA copolymer (80% HEMA). Encapsulated hepatocytes continued to produce urea (a measure of viability) for approximately 2 wk although urea production rates fell steadily over the course of in vitro culture in a pattern similar to those of control hepatocytes in conventional culture. Urea production was slightly higher in 0.01 M Tris buffered glycerol precipitated capsules, relative to phosphate buffered saline precipitated capsules. Hepatocytes were not viable in 0.001 M Tris buffered glycerol precipitated capsules which had a dense wall without the macroporosity seen in the walls of the other capsules. More work is needed to show that HEMA-MMA encapsulated hepatocytes retain some of the differentiated functions of hepatocytes.
Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Wells
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Fisher
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Sefton
D000818:Animals; D001187:Artificial Organs; D002470:Cell Survival; D004339:Drug Compounding; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008689:Methacrylates; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
D008689:Methacrylates; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen