[Application of porous bioceramics for a hybrid type artificial liver system]

Biocompatible porous ceramic carrier was applied for culture of rat hepatocytes. Using composit sinters of hydroxyapatite (HAP) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as culture carriers, freshly harvested rat hepatocytes were cultured. Adhesiveness of fibroblast L-929 cells on various TCP-HAP carriers showed that the composition of 20%-TCP and 80%-HAP is the most preferable for supporting tissue cultures. Hepatocyte function was evaluated by production rates of albumin and urea and consumption rate of glucose. The time-dependent variations of the hepatocytes functions suggest that the porous TCP-HAP carrier was effective for supporting three dimensional tissue structure.