Bioartificial liver with whole blood perfusion

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Hepatology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Liver failure necessitates innovative treatment options.
• Bioartificial Liver (BAL) systems offer a potential solution by mimicking liver function.
• Developing a BAL that can perfuse whole blood is crucial for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel bioartificial liver (BAL) system for whole blood perfusion.
• To assess the detoxification capacity and biocompatibility of the BAL system.
• To investigate the protective mechanisms of the hollow fiber membrane against humoral immunity.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of BAL cartridges with porcine hepatocytes within hollow fibers.
• In vitro perfusion of human whole blood through the BAL system.
• Lidocaine loading tests to evaluate detoxification.
• Histological and immunohistochemical analysis (hematoxylin-eosin, MAC staining) of hepatocytes.
• In vivo assessment in a 24-hour canine model.

Main Results:

• The BAL system demonstrated sustained detoxification of lidocaine over 48 hours.
• Porcine hepatocytes maintained viability and integrity within the hollow fibers, with no observed Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) deposition.
• The hollow fiber membrane effectively protected hepatocytes from humoral immunity.
• In vivo studies showed no significant hemolysis or thrombus formation, indicating good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The developed BAL system is a promising liver assist device capable of perfusing whole blood.
• The system exhibits effective detoxification and biocompatibility, crucial for potential clinical use.
• The hollow fiber design provides immune protection for the encapsulated hepatocytes.