Microencapsulated hepatocytes. Prospects for extracorporeal liver support

To assess the potential for encapsulated hepatocytes as a bioartificial liver support system, rabbit hepatocytes were encapsulated within multicomponent capsules using a complex coacervation technique, and cultured both on plates and in a perfusion reactor. The urea synthesis rate and antipyrine and diazepam degradation rates were evaluated in each system over a 10 day period, and compared with standard plate-cultured hepatocyte efficacy. Urea synthesis rates were significantly higher in the perfusion cultures than in either of the plate culture environments, whereas drug degradation rates were not significantly different in any of the systems.