The influence of membrane molecular weight cutoff on a novel bioartificial liver

Preparation and characterization of galactosylated alginate-chitosan oligomer microcapsule for hepatocytes microencapsulation

Galactosylated alginate (GA)-chitosan oligomer microcapsule was prepared to provide a sufficient mechanical stability, a selective permeability and an appropriate three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment for hepatocytes microencapsulation. The microcapsule has a unique asymmetric membrane structure, with a dense layer located in the inner surface and gradually decreasing toward the outside surface. The stable microcapsule was obtained when GA lower than 50%, while the permeability was increased with increasing of GA. A balance between mechanical stability and permeability was achieved through modulating membrane porosity and thickness. The optimal microcapsule displays a selective permeability allowing efficient transport of human serum albumin while effectively blocking immunoglobulin G. Hepatocytes exhibited high and long term viability (>92%), proliferability, multicellular spheroid morphology, and enhancement of liver-specific functions in the microcapsule wherein galactose moieties present chemical cues to support cell-matrix interactions while the 3D structure of the microcapsule behaves physical cues to facilitate cell-cell interactions.

A preliminary study for constructing a bioartificial liver device with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes

Background

Bioartificial liver systems, designed to support patients with liver failure, are composed of bioreactors and functional hepatocytes. Immunological rejection of the embedded hepatocytes by the host immune system is a serious concern that crucially degrades the performance of the device. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are considered a desirable source for bioartificial liver systems, because patient-derived iPS cells are free from immunological rejection. The purpose of this paper was to test the feasibility of a bioartificial liver system with iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells.

Methods

Mouse iPS cells were differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells by a multi-step differentiation protocol via embryoid bodies and definitive endoderm. Differentiation of iPS cells was evaluated by morphology, PCR assay, and functional assays. iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells were cultured in a bioreactor module with a pore size of 0.2 μm for 7 days. The amount of albumin secreted into the circulating medium was analyzed by ELISA. Additionally, after a 7-day culture in a bioreactor module, cells were observed by a scanning electron microscope.

Results

At the final stage of the differentiation program, iPS cells changed their morphology to a polygonal shape with two nucleoli and enriched cytoplasmic granules. Transmission electron microscope analysis revealed their polygonal shape, glycogen deposition in the cytoplasm, microvilli on their surfaces, and a duct-like arrangement. PCR analysis showed increased expression of albumin mRNA over the course of the differentiation program. Albumin and urea production was also observed. iPS-Heps culture in bioreactor modules showed the accumulation of albumin in the medium for up to 7 days. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the attachment of cell clusters to the hollow fibers of the module. These results indicated that iPS cells were differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells after culture for 7 days in a bioreactor module with a pore size of 0.2 μm.

Conclusion

We consider the combination of a bioreactor module with a 0.2-μm pore membrane and embedded hepatocytes differentiated from iPS cells to be a promising option for bioartificial liver systems. This paper provides the basic concept and preliminary data for an iPS cell-oriented bioartificial liver system.

PACS code: 87. Biological and medical physics, 87.85.-d Biomedical engineering, 87.85.Lf Tissue engineering, 87.85.Tu Modeling biomedical systems.