Bifunctional Polysulfone-Chitosan Composite Hollow Fiber Membrane for Bioartificial Liver

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Hollow fiber membranes are crucial for bioartificial liver assist devices.
• Polysulfone (Psf) and Psf-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (Psf-TPGS) composite membranes are common materials.
• Surface modification is needed to improve biocompatibility and cell interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize chitosan-modified composite hollow fiber and flat membranes.
• To evaluate the efficacy of these membranes for bioartificial liver applications.
• To assess the biocompatibility and cell proliferation on the modified membranes.

Main Methods:

• Asymmetric porous Psf and Psf-TPGS membranes were fabricated using phase inversion.
• Membrane surfaces were modified with chitosan via sulfonation and electrostatic interaction.
• Surface modification stability was confirmed using XPS and FT-IR analysis.
• HepG2 cell attachment, proliferation, and spheroid formation were assessed using cell counting, DNA content, confocal microscopy, and SEM.

Main Results:

• Chitosan modification created a stable, negatively charged membrane surface.
• Chitosan-modified membranes significantly enhanced HepG2 cell attachment and proliferation.
• A higher number of 3D multicellular spheroids formed on the modified membranes.
• Hemocompatibility of modified membranes was comparable to unmodified ones.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan-modified composite membranes are bifunctional materials.
• These membranes demonstrate enhanced biocompatibility and cell growth capabilities.
• The developed membranes show significant potential for bioartificial liver applications.