Hybrid artificial liver using hepatocyte organoid culture.
We developed 2 types of hybrid artificial liver modules using hepatocyte organoid culture. One was a polyurethane foam (PUF)/hepatocyte spheroid packed-bed module. Hepatocytes spontaneously formed spheroids in the PUF pores, and they maintained liver-specific functions well for at least 2 weeks in vitro. As a preclinical experiment, a hybrid artificial liver with 200 g porcine hepatocytes was applied to a pig (25 kg) with liver failure and showed that the hybrid artificial liver was effective in support of liver functions and stabilization of general conditions. We established a new technique of hepatocyte organoid formation using centrifugal force. A hepatocyte organoid formed by centrifugation in hollow fibers maintained functions for more than 4 months in vitro. We developed a new sinusoid-like structure module having hollow fibers arranged by spacers in a micro-regular arrangement. Inoculated hepatocytes in the extra-fiber space of the module formed the organoid by centrifugation, and they maintained the functions for at least 1 month in vitro. The results indicated that this module seems to be promising as a hybrid artificial liver.
Funatsu
K
K
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. funatsu@apex.chem-eng.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Ijima
H
H
Nakazawa
K
K
Yamashita
Y
Y
Shimada
M
M
Sugimachi
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002498:Centrifugation; D004285:Dogs; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000628:therapy; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D009940:Organoids / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D011140:Polyurethanes; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine
D011140:Polyurethanes