Abstract
Using a hybrid artificial lung model including hollow fibers with micropores and cell adhesion onto the membrane, the effect of cell adhesion on oxygen transfer rate was estimated. Positive charge with DEA group to a hydrophillic hollow fiber apparently increased the attached cell density and that was almost same as that of a collagen coated fiber. The cell growth rate on the charged fiber was comparable with that in a culture dish. The oxygen transfer rate using the cell free hollow fiber module increased with increase of gas flow rate suggesting decrease of liquid leakage. The oxygen permeability coefficient in the membrane was determined to 1.0 x 10-2cm/min from the Wilson's plot, which was lower than that of conventional artificial lungs. Cell attachment in the module increased the membrane permeability coefficient to 2.98 x 10-2cm/min. However, an analysis using dimensionless numbers of Sherwood and Schmidt number revealed that the cell adhesion did not cause apparent change of the mass transfer coefficient of liquid thin layer. These results shows the possibility that the micropore hollow fiber membrane having cell layer can achieve proper oxygen transfer rate and also that it can avoid blood leakage across the membrane. This may promise a hybrid artificial lung for clinical application.
