Hybrid artificial liver using a polyurethane foam packed-bed culture system

We originally developed a new large multi-capillary polyurethane foam packe d-bed culture system as a hybrid artificial liver (PUF-HAL) system for clin ical use containing 2x10(10) primary porcine hepatocytes. This new large PU F-BAL functioned very well in pigs with failed liver. By the in vitro studi es of small scale of PUF-HAL in human plasmas' circulation, the PUF-HAL fun ctioned well for 24 hours in normal human plasmas, and for at least 48 to 7 2 hours in the liver failure plasmas. Nafamostat Mesilate (FUT) suppressed the adhesion of human C3 on cultured porcine hepatocytes, and reduced the c ytotoxity of human sera. Therefore, we consider that our PUF-HAL shows prom ise in clinical situations, thus now waiting for permission from institutio nal ethical committee.