Key challenges to the development of extracorporeal bioartificial liver support systems  

作　　者：Li-Fu Zhao, Xiao-Ping Pan and Lan-Juan Li State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China 

出　　处：《Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases International》2012年第3期243-249,共7页国际肝胆胰疾病杂志（英文版）

基　　金：supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30630023);the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81121002)

摘　　要：BACKGROUND: For nearly three decades, extracorporeal bioartificial liver (BAL) support systems have been anticipated as promising tools for the treatment of liver failure. However, these systems are still far from clinical application. This review aimed to analyze the key challenges to the development of BALs. DATA SOURCE: We carried out a PubMed search of Englishlanguage articles relevant to extracorporeal BAL support systems and liver failure. RESULTS: Extracorporeal BALs face a series of challenges. First, an appropriate cell source for BAL is not readily available. Second, existing bioreactors do not provide in vivolike oxygenation and bile secretion. Third, emergency needs cannot be met by current BALs. Finally, the effectiveness of BALs, either in animals or in patients, has been difficult to document. CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal BAL support systems are mainly challenged by incompetent cell sources and flawed bioreactors. To advance this technology, future research is needed to provide more insights into interpreting the conditions for hepatocyte differentiation and liver microstructure formation.BACKGROUND: For nearly three decades, extracorporeal bioartificial liver (BAL) support systems have been anticipated as promising tools for the treatment of liver failure. However, these systems are still far from clinical application. This review aimed to analyze the key challenges to the development of BALs. DATA SOURCE: We carried out a PubMed search of Englishlanguage articles relevant to extracorporeal BAL support systems and liver failure. RESULTS: Extracorporeal BALs face a series of challenges. First, an appropriate cell source for BAL is not readily available. Second, existing bioreactors do not provide in vivolike oxygenation and bile secretion. Third, emergency needs cannot be met by current BALs. Finally, the effectiveness of BALs, either in animals or in patients, has been difficult to document. CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal BAL support systems are mainly challenged by incompetent cell sources and flawed bioreactors. To advance this technology, future research is needed to provide more insights into interpreting the conditions for hepatocyte differentiation and liver microstructure formation.

关 键 词：bioartificial liver liver failure cell source BIOREACTOR 

分 类 号：R575.3[医药卫生—消化系统]