Associate Professor of Yokohama National University, Japan Atsushi Fukuda Second together researchers cultured vascular cells and iPS cells have developed a tiny blood vessel-like structure of the artificial liver.
Allegedly, the artificial liver, liver-specific proteins can be generated, but also have metabolic functions. Liver function tests found that the functional equivalent of about one-tenth of the human liver. The researchers hope to make patients awaiting liver transplants using the artificial liver, plans to target over the next 10 years into practical applications.
Palm-sized device implanted material, which became a few polymeric vascular cells form vascular structures similar 9; at its surrounded by a capillary-like organization.
The researchers used human iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells) cultured liver cells. The vascular cells co-cultured liver cells to produce artificial liver, the liver can be like the same work.
It is reported that the device as an artificial liver, liver function tests found that the device can be the same as the normal liver secretory proteins, and have to reduce ammonia and other functions.
The structure is similar to the blood vessels carrying blood vessel cells of container into the material, on the inside of the jack will be stained with blood vessel cells. Then adding the main part of the artificial liver – from human iPS cells cultured cell masses cultured together, eventually made of artificial liver.