Morphology and metabolism of hepatocytes cultured in Petri dishes on filmsand in non-woven fabrics of hyaluronic acid esters

Polymers of hyaluronic acid (Hyal) esters exhibit good tissue compatibility and are available in various geometrical configurations. These properties can be exploited for the design of innovative bioartificial liver support d evices (BALSDs) using primary hepatocytes. In this paper, we report a preli minary investigation of the polymer feasibility of the ethyl and the benzyl Hyal ester in the form of films and non-woven Fabrics for the in vitro cul ture of primary rat hepatocytes. Cell function was evaluated daily in Petri dishes with respect to the rate of ammonia elimination (AER) and urea synt hesis (USR). Cells cultured in non-woven fabrics of the ethyl ester of Hyal (HYAFF7(nw)) exhibited an initial AER about 32% lower and synthesised urea 33% faster than that of cells on collagen films. After a week in culture, cells on collagen films retained only a minor fraction of their initial rat es. Cells cultured in non-woven fabrics of HYAFF7(nw) retained about 62 and 44% of their initial AER and USR, respectively, and exhibited an AER appro ximately equal to and a USR 3.6 times greater than those of cells adherent to collagen. These results suggest that non-woven fabrics of HYAFF7(nw) are promising substrata for hepatocyte culture in BALSDs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.