Encapsulated bioartificial liver

The encapsulation of hepatocytes for a bioartificial liver, and cell therapy for the treatment of other hormone deficiencies or neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer s and Parkinson s, are also under investigation. Additional examples of cell encapsulation in polymer-polymer coacervates include non-autologous gene therapy,blood substitutes as well as the treatment of prostate cancer. Pharmaceutical applications of microcapsules encompass, in addition, trans-dermal drug delivery and protein delivery such as is required in anti-inflammatory therapy for arthritis. 

In order to sustain life, a bioartificial liver device should contain at least 10-30% of the normal liver mass (i.e., 150-450 g of cells in the case of an adult). In a bioartificial liver device, the animal or human liver cells can conceivably be cultured and used in several forms, including (i) independent single-cell suspensions (ii) spheroid (i.e., globular) aggregates of cells of 100-150 pm diameter (iii) cylindroid, rod-like aggregates of cells of 100-150 pm diameter (iv) encapsulated cells and (v) cells attached to solid surfaces, such as microcarriers, flat surfaces, and the inside or outside of hollow fibers. In order to facilitate mass transfer, a direct contact between the cells and the blood seems preferable. Among the various types of bioartificial liver device tested to date, four distinct groups can be identified [19] ... 

Gautier, A., Carpentier, B., Dufresne, M., Dinh, Q.V., PaulUer, R, Legallais, C., 2011. Impact of alginate type and bead diameter on mass transfers and the metabolic activities of encapsulated C3A cells in bioartificial liver apphcations. Eur. Cell Mat. 21, 94—106. 

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