Effect of Growth Factors and Defined Medium on Primary Hepatocyte Culture on Polyester Carriers with Varying Surface Treatment

The growth and function of primary rat hepatocytes was characterized on commercial, electrostatically treated nonwoven polyester carriers (Fibra-Cel) designed for use in a packed-bed bioreactor. Such carriers are attractive in that they allow three-dimensional cellular interactions and afford shear protection. To initiate investigations of the potential of these carriers for hepatocyte support, novel hepatocyte media were evaluated along with a variety of carrier surface treatments in static cell culture. Different serum-free chemically defined media with recombinant growth factors known to be complete mitogens for hepatocytes were contrasted. Carrier treatments included unmodified surfaces contrasted with carriers coated with type I collagen or HepG2-derived extracellular matrix. Hepatocytes were also co-cultured with nonparenchymal cells. Cellular mitochondrial metabolism of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiozol- 2-yellow)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was used to ascertain continued viability. Cell prolifera...