title: Preparation and characterization of a collagen/chitosan/heparin matrix for an implantable bioartificial liver.
abstract: A new type of collagen/chitosan/heparin matrix, fabricated by gelation of collagen/ chitosan with heparin sodium containing ammonia, was produced to construct livers by tissue engineering and regenerative engineering. The obtained collagen/chitosan/heparin matrix was found to be highly porous, swelled rapidly in PBS solution and was stable in vitro for at least 60 days in collagenase/lysozyme containing buffered aqueous solution (PBS, pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C. The collagen/chitosan/heparin matrix resulted in a superior blood compatibility compared to the ammonia-treated collagen and collagen/chitosan matrices. The morphology and behavior of the cells on the collagen/chitosan/heparin membrane were found to be similar to those on the collagen membrane but different from those on the collagen/chitosan membrane. Hepatocytes cultured on the collagen/chitosan/heparin matrices exhibited highest urea and triglyceride secretion functions 25 days post seeding. These results suggest that this collagen/chitosan/heparin matrix is a potential candidate for liver tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Center of Organism Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. wangxiaohong@tsinghua.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongnian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Rendong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Renji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qingping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D048271:Chitosan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005782:Gels; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D014280:Triglycerides; D014508:Urea; D006493:Heparin; D003094:Collagen; D048271:Chitosan