For bioartificial organ devices containing cells packed at high density, establishing suitable nutrient transport pathways continues to be an important engineering challenge. This is particularly true with respect to the delivery of O2. The goal of this investigation is to explore the feasibility of using perfluorocarbons (PFCs) within plasma replacements (e.g., nutrient media) to evaluate their effectiveness in improving the functional performance of packed bed bioartificial devices. These inert, organic compounds are able to dissolve large volumes of oxygen, CO2, and other gases and have been used clinically for applications ranging from artificial blood to partial liquid ventilation. This exploratory application seeks to test the hypothesis that improving the O2 carrying capacity of nutrient flow, through the use of PFCs, improves the functional performance of packed-bed hepatic devices by increasing the number of cells exposed to favorable O2 conditions. Through the aims of this project, novel in vitro test systems are designed, fabricated, and used to determine the relationship between the level of O2 supplied and the efficiency in which it is used by the cells when RFC-supplemented media is used as the O2 source. The O2 solubility of the supply is then adjusted in order to minimize the regions of the cellular space exposed to adverse (i.e., hypoxic, hyperoxic) O2 levels. Finally, the optimized conditions are selectively tested in a dynamic flow device consisting of densely packed cell layers. Hence the proposed work has the potential to alterthe future design and usage of bioreactor devices by making it feasible to support larger numbers of densely packed cells to achieve better functional performance. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21EB004982-02
Application #
7230199
Study Section
Gene and Drug Delivery Systems Study Section (GDD)
Program Officer
Hunziker, Rosemarie
Project Start
2006-06-01
Project End
2009-12-31
Budget Start
2007-06-01
Budget End
2009-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$200,660
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
066300096
City
Charlotte
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
28223