Hollow fibre membrane bioreactor functionalized with GO‐cryogel 3D matrix promotes liver cell anchoring and their functional maintenance

Abstract

AbstractThe liver support system (bioartificial liver, BAL) is a potentially efficient treatment during reversible acute liver disease or while waiting for a liver transplant. The main challenge in implementing BAL is a bioreactor, which can fulfil the needs of hepatocyte culture, mass transfer and immunobarriers. In the present study, polymer nanocomposite hollow fibre membranes (HFMs) were fabricated using polyethersulphone (P) as a base polymer, vitamin E TPGS (T) as an additive and carboxylated carbon nanotubes (C) as a filler. These PTC HFMs were functionalized with cryogel (Cr), with or without carboxylated graphene oxide (G), known as PTC‐Cr or PTC‐CrG HFMs, respectively. These HFM substrates were characterized and evaluated for hemocompatibility, cytotoxicity and cellular functionality. Among all the HFM substrates, PTC‐CrG HFMs showed superior hemocompatibility and minimal cytotoxicity. Furthermore, a liver cell bioreactor was developed and studied using PTC‐CrG HFMs. The goat primary liver cells were seeded in a bioreactor and cultured in continuous mode. The cell functionality was better maintained in the continuous mode as compared to that in the batch culture. The three‐dimensional PTC‐CrG HFMs‐based bioreactor can be used for liver cell bioreactor, bioartificial liver system, drug testing/toxicology metabolic study and mass cell culture.