ENHANCED OXYGENATION OF BIOARTIFICIAL LIVERS

生物人工肝(BAL)被提出在肝功能衰竭期间执行肝功能，直到天然肝脏再生，或直到移植成为可能。对于慢性肝病患者，BAL可以进行周期性的解毒。理想的BAL应该模拟正常的肝功能。采用中空纤维(HF)膜进行整体氧合大大提高了肝细胞的活力和功能。然而，尽管微孔HF膜具有足够的初始性能，但在很短的时间内，“湿出”和污染会导致气体传输量显著下降。申请的科学家提议利用一种新的、高效的气体传输膜来制造一种双纤维生物反应器。这种新的氧合方法将提供更长期的、无泡的氧气来源，并增加总气体流量，以提高细胞的活力和功能。第二组纤维将被设计用于腔外肝细胞附着。成功完成拟议的研发工作将产生增强的BAL，能够提供更长期、显著改善的肝功能。拟议的商业应用：提供长期肝细胞功能的生物人工肝有望提供简单的支持性护理，并成为移植的桥梁，或者更重要的是，改善急性肝功能衰竭患者的健康，从而完全避免移植。我们的膜技术将大大提高生物人工肝内的氧气传输能力，从而显著提高此类设备的性能。

The bioartificial liver (BAL) has been proposed to carry out liver function during hepatic failure until the native liver has regenerated, or until transplantation is possible. For patients with chronic liver diseases, BAL could perform periodic detoxifications. The ideal BAL would mimic normal liver function. The employment of hollow fiber (HF) membranes for integral oxygenation greatly enhances hepatocyte viability and function. However, although microporous HF membranes have adequate initial performance, after a short period of time, "wet out" and fouling cause gas transport to drop significantly. The applicant scientists propose to fabricate a dual fiber bioreactor utilizing a new, highly efficient gas transfer membrane. This new oxygenation method will provide a longer term, bubbleless oxygen source with increased overall gas flux in order to enhance cell viability and function. The second set fibers will be designed for extraluminal hepatocyte attachment. Successful completion of the proposed R & D effort will produce an enhanced BAL with the ability to provide longer term, significantly improved liver function. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Bioarficial livers that provide long term hepatocyte function are expected to provide simple supportive care and serve as a bridge to transplant, or more importantly, improve the health of patients with acute liver failure, and thus avoid a transplant altogether. Our membrane technology will substantially improve oxygen transfer capability within the bioartificial liver and, therefore, significantly improve the performance of such devices.