Transport advances in disposable bioreactors for liver tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Hepatology

Background:

• Acute liver failure (ALF) has a high mortality rate, with liver transplantation limited by organ scarcity.
• Bioartificial liver (BAL) devices offer a potential therapeutic alternative by supporting liver function and regeneration.
• Tissue-engineered (TE) liver constructs in bioreactors are a promising BAL approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advanced strategies for improving mass transport in BAL bioreactors for ALF treatment.
• To address limitations in current BAL efficacy, including cellular activity loss and necrotic core formation.

Main Methods:

• Focus on strategies enhancing nutrient delivery and waste removal within BAL bioreactors.
• Review of tissue-engineered liver constructs utilizing hepatocytes or precursor cells.
• Analysis of continuous-flow bioreactor designs for BAL applications.

Main Results:

• Current BAL clinical trials demonstrate safety but lack conclusive efficacy compared to supportive care.
• Mass transport limitations in bioreactors hinder nutrient/waste exchange, impacting cell viability and function.
• Development of effective BALs hinges on optimizing cellular microenvironment and transport phenomena.

Conclusions:

• Improving mass transport is crucial for developing therapeutically effective BALs for ALF.
• Advanced bioreactor designs are needed to overcome current limitations and enhance BAL performance.
• Further research into optimizing cellular function and transport is essential for successful ALF treatment with BALs.