Bio-Artificial Liver

By M.NAGARATHNAM B.S.ROOPASHREE

Functions of a Liver:
The liver secretes bile, which metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It stores glycogen, vitamins, and other substances. It synthesizes blood-clotting factors. It removes wastes and toxic matter from the blood. The liver is able to regenerate.
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Why do liver fails?

Heavy drug addiction. Chain smoking. Consuming alcohol. Intake of heavy sugars.

Methods to treat liver failure:

Liver failure An alternative
Synthetic membrane Liver transplantation

Hepatitis bioreactor
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Using a synthetic membrane

Artificial liver has four steps:
Separation of plasma from blood. Removal of toxins. Reconstitution. Re infusion.

Separation of plasma from blood

Removal of toxins

Re infusion into the patient

mars

Hollow fiber membrane hemodialyzer. Blood on one side, human albumin on other. Albumin recycled through circuit containing another dialyzer and carbon and anion exchanger adsorption columns. Removes both water-soluble and protein bound substance.
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LIVERx2000
Hollow fiber cartridge Primary porcine hepatocytes suspended in a cold collagen solution and injected inside fibers Blood circulates outside the hollow fibers Designed to treat both acute and chronic liver failure Phase I/II clinical trials are underway to test the safety of efficacy of this device Anyone treated with the LIVERx2000 will be monitored for PERV

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Transplanting Liver

Patients are in waiting list ranked according to severity of disease and life expectancy among other variables.
Can be from a cadaveric donor or from a live donor. Involves heavy use of immunosuppressants during and after surgery. The risk of rejecion is always present

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MELS

Parallel plate design Human hepatocytes attached to semipermeable membranes on parallel plate Plasma separator, then plasma passes into the bioreactor In the bioreactor, the plasma flows over the semipermeable membrane where the hepatocytes are adhered. Current trials in Europe show promise
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THE END
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