title: Evaluation of a novel choanoid fluidized bed bioreactor for future bioartificial livers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To construct and evaluate the functionality of a choanoid-fluidized bed bioreactor (CFBB) based on microencapsulated immortalized human hepatocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Encapsulated hepatocytes were placed in the constructed CFBB and circulated through Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) for 12 h, and then through exchanged plasma for 6 h, and compared with encapsulated cells cultivated under static conditions in a spinner flask. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin were used to evaluate the CFBB during media circulation, whereas levels of ALT, total bilirubin (TBil), and albumin were used to evaluate it during plasma circulation. Mass transfer and hepatocyte injury were evaluated by comparing the results from the two experimental conditions. In addition, the viability and microstructure of encapsulated cells were observed in the different environments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bioartificial liver model based on a CFBB was verified by in vitro experiments. The viability of encapsulated cells accounting for 84.6% ± 3.7% in CFBB plasma perfusion was higher than the 74.8% ± 3.1% in the static culture group (P < 0.05) after 6 h. ALT release from cells was 29 ± 3.5 U/L vs 40.6 ± 3.2 U/L at 12 h (P < 0.01) in the CFBB medium circulation and static medium culture groups, respectively. Albumin secretion from cells was 234.2 ± 27.8 μg/1 × 10(7) cells vs 167.8 ± 29.3 μg/1 × 10(7) cells at 6 h (P < 0.01), 274.4 ± 34.6 μg/1 × 10(7) cells vs 208.4 ± 49.3 μg/1 × 10(7) cells (P < 0.05) at 12 h, in the two medium circulation/culture groups, respectively. Furthermore, ALT and TBil levels were 172.3 ± 24.1 U/L vs 236.3 ± 21.5 U/L (P < 0.05), 240.1 ± 23.9 μmol/L vs 241.9 ± 31.4 μmol/L (P > 0.05) at 6 h in the CFBB plasma perfusion and static plasma culture groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in albumin concentration between the two experimental plasma groups at any time point. The microstructure of the encapsulated hepatocytes remained healthier in the CFBB group compared with the static culture group after 6 h of plasma perfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CFBB can function as a bioartificial liver based on a bioreactor. The efficacy of this novel bioreactor is promising for the study of liver failure.
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Bo
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Cui
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Bo Yu, Xiao-Ping Pan, Liang Yu, Xiao-Peng Yu, Wei-Bo Du, Hong-Cui Cao, Jun Li, Ping Chen, Lan-Juan Li, States Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Lan-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D004867:Equipment Design; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D010477:Perfusion; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C422455:ALB protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human
keywords: Bioartificial liver; Bioreactor; Choanoid; Fluidized bed; Immortalized human hepatocytes