THE CONCEPT OF APPLICATION OF IMMOBILIZED AND PERFUSED MAMMALIAN-CELLS (A BIOREACTOR MODEL) IN BIOMEDICAL-RESEARCH

An overview of the concept of cellular immobilization and perfusion as a small laboratory bioreactor model is presented. The cellular system s currently used may be described as static. This is due to conditions of hypoxia and waste product build-up that affect cell physiology. Ce llular immobilization and perfusion is, therefore, expected to maintai n the cells for very long periods of time under approximately physiolo gical conditions. A number of applications of immobilized perfused hep atocytes and other cellular systems such as adipocytes and Sertoli cel ls are described in addition to various other cell lines. Moreover, it is suggested that the bioreactor may have potential use a bioartifici al organ.