Evaluation of the performance of a PUF/spheroid packed-bed artificial liver by using an extracorporeal circulation with hepatic failure rats - Optimization of operation conditions of the artificial liver

It was found from in vitro experiments that optimum superficial velocity in multi-capillary (MC) PUF packed-bed was about 65.1 cm/min , which improved the performance of the artificial liver without reducing the immobilizing ratio of hepatocyte/spheroid in MC-PUF packed-bed. By the optimization of medium (or plasma) flow rate and scaling up of MC- PUF/spheroid packed-bed, it was achieved that the decrease of ammonia concentration and repression of increase of bilirubin concentration and of artificial liver module side circulation line in extracorporeal circulation with severe hepatic failure rats.