Development of a liver model using PAM scaffolds in static and dynamic conditions

The aim of the present work was to test the functionality of hepatocytes cultured on three-dimensional polymeric scaffolds realised with pressure activated microsyringe (PAM) system in static and dynamic conditions. The dynamic cell culture conditions have been produced using a bioreactor system developed and patented by our group. Hepatocytes used in this study were HepG2 cell line. Cells were seeded and cultured on hexagonal-three-dimensional polymeric poly-lactic-co-glycolic-acid (PLGA) scaffolds, initially sterilized and functionalised with murine collagen type IV. Hepatocytes cell density, glucose consumption, albumin and transferrin secretion rate have been measured daily for the whole length (7 days) of experiment. Cells under dynamic conditions showed an increase in cell density. Moreover, the metabolic cell function increased three times in comparison with monolayer culture. These results have suggested that the combination of three-dimensional scaffolds with a well defined topology and dynamic conditions were important for the development of a hepatic tissue model that could be use for drug testing and regenerative medicine.