Browsing by Author "Palakkan, AA"

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    Evaluation of Polypropylene Hollow-Fiber Prototype Bioreactor for Bioartificial Liver
    (TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 2013) Palakkan, AA; Raj, DK; Rojan, J; Raj, RGS; Kumar, PRA; Muraleedharan, CV; Kumary, TV
    Hepatocytes in high density are a requisite for the functional performance of complex devices such as bioartificial liver (BAL). In addition to high cell number, efficient mass transfer is also a key parameter in such devices. High-density culture of cells and efficient mass transfer can be achieved in BAL with hollow-fiber-based bioreactors. Even though different types of hollow fibers have been tried in a BAL, prospects of using polypropylene hollow fibers are not well evaluated. In this study, a prototype of bioreactor with polypropylene hollow fibers was fabricated and evaluated for cytotoxicity and hepatocyte function. High density of HepG2/adult hepatocyte cultures was used to evaluate polypropylene hollow fiber to support the biochemical activities (albumin and urea production), ammonia detoxification, and gene expression and to provide effective oxygenation. The results confirmed that a polypropylene hollow-fiber prototype bioreactor is able to provide efficient oxygenation and supported hepatocyte functions in a high-density culture.
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    Liver tissue engineering and cell sources: issues and challenges
    (LIVER INTERNATIONAL, 2013) Palakkan, AA; Hay, DC; Anil, KPR; Kumary, TV; Ross, JA
    Liver diseases are of major concern as they now account for millions of deaths annually. As a result of the increased incidence of liver disease, many patients die on the transplant waiting list, before a donor organ becomes available. To meet the huge demand for donor liver, alternative approaches using liver tissue engineering principles are being actively pursued. Even though adult hepatocytes, the primary cells of the liver are most preferred for tissue engineering of liver, their limited availability, isolation from diseased organs, lack of in vitro propagation and deterioration of function acts as a major drawback to their use. Various approaches have been taken to prevent the functional deterioration of hepatocytes including the provision of an adequate extracellular matrix and co-culture with non-parenchymal cells of liver. Great progress has also been made to differentiate human stem cells to hepatocytes and to use them for liver tissue engineering applications. This review provides an overview of recent challenges, issues and cell sources with regard to liver tissue engineering.