Influence of hypothermic conditions on primary porcine hepatocyte-entrapped hollow fiber bioreactors

Transportation of bioartificial liver (BAL) device with viable cells and higher metabolic functions are necessary. The aim of this study is to evaluate hypothermic (4 °C) influence on the performance of hepatocyte-entrapped hollow fiber bioreactors, as well as the effects on cell function with or without medium supplement. Oxygen consumptions were stable at average of 15–25 mmHg per cartridge during 8 h normothermic incubation after cold-perfusion and cold-non-perfusion. All groups showed increase in glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level. Urea production and albumin synthesis were only slightly higher in cold-perfusion groups than that of the cold-non-perfusion groups and the control. There were no significant differences in the metabolic functions of bioreactors between each study groups during normothermic operation. Our study suggests that the use of a preliminary cold-storage step prior to normal culture condition or clinical therapy can prolong the transportation time without changing various functions of the BAL device.