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Decellularization and Recellularization of Whole Livers
Published on: February 4, 2011
Artificial liver support based on artificial cells with emphasis on encapsulated hepatocytes
1Artificial Cells and Organs Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Artificial Organs
|February 1, 1992
Summary
Microencapsulated hepatocytes show promise for artificial liver support by improving survival in liver failure models and enhancing hepatocyte viability through a novel encapsulation method.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Hepatology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Artificial liver support traditionally focuses on detoxification, but additional metabolic functions are crucial.
- Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and severe hyperbilirubinemia present significant clinical challenges.
- Existing artificial liver support systems have limitations in addressing the multifaceted nature of liver dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of microencapsulated hepatocytes as an alternative approach for artificial liver support.
- To evaluate the impact of microencapsulated hepatocytes on survival rates in fulminant hepatic failure models.
- To assess the biocompatibility and immunoisolation of encapsulated hepatocytes for enhanced liver regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel two-step cell encapsulation technique for hepatocytes.
- Xenografting of microencapsulated rat hepatocytes into immunodeficient mice.
- Assessment of hepatocyte viability, survival time in FHF rats, and bilirubin levels in Gunn rats.
- Analysis of secreted factors from encapsulated hepatocytes using molecular weight cut-off filtration.
Main Results:
- Microencapsulated hepatocytes significantly increased survival time in rats with fulminant hepatic failure.
- Bilirubin levels were reduced in Gunn rats treated with microencapsulated hepatocytes.
- Hepatocyte viability within microcapsules improved from 62% to 100% over 29 days post-xenografting.
- A hepatic stimulatory factor (>100,000 D) accumulated within the artificial cells, promoting hepatocyte function.
Conclusions:
- Microencapsulated hepatocytes offer a viable strategy for artificial liver support, addressing both detoxification and metabolic functions.
- The novel encapsulation method enhances immunoisolation and biocompatibility, leading to improved hepatocyte survival and function.
- Further development of microencapsulated hepatocyte technology holds potential for treating acute and chronic liver diseases.
