Massive culture of human liver cancer cells in a newly developed radial flow bioreactor system: ultrafine structure of functionally enhanced hepatocarcinoma cell lines
Abstract
With a view to initiating clinical trials, cell morphology and function for a newly developed artificial liver support system employing highly functional human liver cell line, FLC-7, cultured in a radial flow bioreactor were compared to cells grown in a conventional monolayer culture. The radial flow bioreactor consists of a vertically extended cylindrical matrix comprised of porous glass bead microcarriers through which liquid medium flows from the periphery in toward the central axis generating a beneficial concentration gradient of oxygen and nutrients, while preventing excessive shear stresses or buildup of waste products. The three-dimensional culture system supports high-density (1.1 x 10(8) cells/ml-matrix), large scale cultures (4.4 x 10(10) cells/400 ml-bioreactor) with long-term viability. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) revealed that cells cultured in a monolayer system were flattened and extended with numerous cytoplasmic projections. Cells in the three-dimensional culture were spherical and covered with microvillilike processes resembling liver cells in vivo. The cells were solidly attached on the surfaces and within the pores of the microcarriers in highly dense colonies. The spherical...Continue Reading
References
The 11-year Pittsburgh experience with liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: 1981-1991
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