FORMATION OF A SPHERICAL MULTICELLULAR AGGREGATE (SPHEROID) OF ANIMAL-CELLS IN THE PORES OF POLYURETHANE FOAM AS A CELL-CULTURE SUBSTRATUM AND ITS APPLICATION TO A HYBRID ARTIFICIAL LIVER

Monkey kidney cells (Vero), human embryonic kidney cells (293), human liver cells (PLC/PRF/5), and primary rat, dog, and porcine hepatocytes formed spherical multicellular aggregates (spheroids) in the pores of polyurethane foam which was used as a cell culture substratum, These spheroids of various cell types express high cell activity for a long period. A practical hybrid artificial liver support system composed of a multi-capillary polyurethane foam packed-bed type cell culture modu le including primary hepatocyte spheroids was developed, The success o f the system is indicated by an 80% recovery rate in hepatic failure r ats which died in control experiments.