[Development of a bioartificial liver using porcine hepatocyte spheroids]

We have discussed hereby about the latest studies on bioartificial liver systems including those examined in human clinical trials. Based on the discussion and in order to meet the present requirement of clinical sides to the system, that is, maximal metabolic capacities up to 6 hours of plasma perfusion treatment, we have developed a new bioartificial liver based on high-cell density suspension perfusion culture of porcine hepatocyte spheroids, which have two or three times higher functional expressions that those of conventional cultures. The module developed can retain a large number of hepatocytes(4 x 10(9)) in 150 mL volume without any functional deterioration usually accompanied by high-cell density cultivation, even when compared with small-scale dish-level cultures.