Bio-artificial liver device

Bio-artificial liver device - The purpose of BAL-type device, this time, not permanently replace the function of the liver, but to serve as a support device , both allow the liver to regenerate in acute liver failure or to meet the individual liver functions until a transplant is possible.

Function

Bals essentially bioreactors with hepatocytes (liver cells embedded) performing normal hepatic function. They treat the plasma oxygenated blood, which is separated from other blood components  Several types of Bals are being developed, including a system of hollow fiber and flat sheet membrane system ..
Hollow fiber system

A similar type system BAL kidney dialysis using hollow fiber cartridge. Hepatocytes suspended in a gel solution, such as collagen, which is injected into a series of hollow fibers. In the case of collagen, the suspension was then gel fibers, usually with changes in temperature. Hepatocytes then signed their attachment gel with a collagen matrix, which reduces the volume of the suspension and to create a flow through the fibers. Nutrition media flow through the fiber to maintain the cells. During use, the plasma removed from the patient's blood. Plasma of patients included in the space surrounding the fiber. Fibers, which consists of a semipermeable membrane, which facilitates the transfer of toxins, nutrients and other chemicals between the blood and the cells are suspended. These membranes also allows the body's immunity, such as immunoglobulins, pass into cells to avoid immune rejection.
Comparison with the kidney dialysis

The advantage of using BAL, other dialysis device type (kidney dialysis, for example), is that the metabolic functions (such as plasma lipid and lipoprotein synthesis, regulation of homeostasis carbohydrate production of serum albumin and clotting factors, etc.), in addition to detoxification, may be reproduced without using multiple devices. Although there are several BAL devices currently in clinical trials.

A series of studies in 2004 showed that the mortality reduction by BAL approximately half of the cases of acute liver failure . The study, which included 171 patients in the United States and Europe, compared to standard care supporting the use of bioreactor cells from pig liver.