ALEX (artificial liver for extracorporeal xenoassistance): a new bioreactor containing a porcine autologous biomatrix as hepatocyte support. Preliminary results in an ex vivo experimental model.
Int J Artif Organs
; 25(10): 960-5, 2002 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12456037
ABSTRACT
Long-term maintenance of viability and expression of differentiated hepatocyte function is crucial for bioartificial liver support. We developed a new bioreactor design (ALEX), associated with a new extracellular autologous hepatocyte biomatrix (Porcine Autologous Biomatrix - PBM) support. To test this new bioreactor, we compared it to a standard BAL (BioArtificial Liver) cartridge in a ex vivo model using human plasma added to bilirubin, ammonium and lidocaine. A pathology study was performed on both bioreactors. The results suggest that ALEX allows a maximal contact between the perfusing plasma and the liver cells and a proper hepatocyte support by a cell-to-matrix attachment. ALEX is a suitable cell support bioreactor, guaranteeing long-term maintenance of the metabolic activity of hepatocytes when compared to a standard BAL cartridge.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Liver, Artificial
/
Extracorporeal Circulation
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Artif Organs
Year:
2002
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy