EFFECTS OF SURFACE MODIFICATION OF SUBSTRATE MATERIAL TO ATTAIN HIGHLY CONCENTRATED HEPATOCYTES CULTURE

Abstract

To attain highly concentrated culture of hepatocytes is an essential requirement in developing an artificial liver support system or a bioreactor. This study was attempted to improve the culture conditions of the primary hepatocyte culture. We tested 9 kinds of modified substrate materials, which were selected as major components of extracellular matrices, substances affecting surface charges, and a typical hydrophilic polymer. It is sugested that with chondroitin sulfate a spheroid-like aggregation of hepatocytes is inducible. Morphological studies revealed that spheroids have inner structures similar to liver cells in vivo. They also keep sufficient viability, ammonia metabolism and albumin synthesis.