Three-dimensional culture of hepatocytes on spongy polyethersulfone membrane developed for cell transplantation

Implantable bioartificial liver has been investigated for patients suffering from liver insufficiency after mass liver resection or acute liver failure. Liver cells are implanted as free cell suspension, in microencapsulation systems or using microcarriers. To exhibit their typical functions, hepatic cells need a three-dimensional environment that is much more physiological than a flat one. The aim of our study was in vivo evaluation of spongy polyethersulfone membranes as a synthetic support for hepatic cells grown three dimensionally and transplanted to SCID/NOD mice. Spongy membranes were prepared using phase inversion from membrane-forming mixtures containing the following: polyethersulfone (based polymer), dimethylformamide (solvent), polyvinylpyrrolidone MW 10000 (small pore precursor), and cellulose (large pore precursor). We observed that polyethersulfone membranes were well tolerated by C3A cells and we did not observe any toxic effect, resulting in viability of cells >95%. Use of collagen gel as a support for cells on the scaffold gives the opportunity to increase 10 times the number of cells seeded on the membrane. Heparin addition to collagen gel did not influence albumin production in SCID/NOD mice. We observed an increase of albumin production after 7 and 14 days after implantation. Use of collagen gels in combination with polymer scaffolds allows preparation of bioartificial organs possessing high cell concentration for transplantation purposes.