Galactosylated PVDF membrane promotes hepatocyte attachment and functional maintenance

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Developing functional substrates for hepatocyte attachment and maintenance is crucial for bioartificial liver devices (BALD).
• Existing substrates often face limitations in supporting long-term hepatocyte function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) surface modified with galactose-tethered Pluronic polymer for hepatocyte culture.
• To assess the efficacy of this modified surface in promoting hepatocyte attachment, spheroid formation, and functional maintenance.

Main Methods:

• A poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membrane was coated with galactose-derived Pluronic F68 (F68-Gal) via hydrophobic interactions.
• Galactose density on the modified PVDF surface was quantified.
• Rat hepatocyte attachment, spheroid formation, and functional assays (albumin synthesis, P450 1A1 activity) were performed on the modified membrane compared to controls.

Main Results:

• The F68-Gal coating achieved a galactose density of 15.4 nmol/cm² at a concentration of 1 mg/ml and demonstrated stability in culture medium.
• Hepatocyte attachment efficiency on the PVDF/F68-Gal membrane was comparable to collagen-coated surfaces.
• Attached hepatocytes self-assembled into multicellular spheroids and exhibited enhanced albumin synthesis and P450 1A1 detoxification function compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• The galactose-immobilized PVDF membrane serves as a promising functional substrate for hepatocyte culture.
• This material supports hepatocyte attachment, promotes spheroid formation, and enhances key liver-specific functions.
• The developed substrate shows potential for applications in bioartificial liver devices and liver tissue engineering.