Currently, there are several techniques for modified cell culture surfaces under research to improve cell growth and adhesion. Recently, different methods have been used for surface coating, using biomolecules that enhance cell attachment and growth of nerve cells from spinal cord, such as the use of Poly-DL-Ornithine/Laminin. Plasma-polymerized pyrrole (PPy)-treated surfaces have showed improvement on surfaces biocompatibility with the cells in culture since they do not interfere with any of the biological cell functions. In the present work, we present a novel mouse nerve cell culture technique, using PPy-treated cell culture surfaces. A comparative study of cell survival using Poly-DL-Ornithine/Laminin-treated surfaces was performed. Our results of cell survival when compared with data already reported by other investigators, show that cells cultured on the PPy-modified surface increased survival up to 21 days when compared with Poly-DL-Ornithine/Laminin-coated culture, where 8 days cell survival was obtained. There were electrical and morphological differences in the nerve cells grown in the different surfaces. By comparing the peak ion currents of Poly-DL-Ornithine/Laminin-seeded cells for 8 days with cells grown for 21 days on PPy, an increase of 516% in the Na(+) current and 127% in K(+) currents in cells seeded on PPy were observed. Immunofluorescence techniques showed the presence of cell synapses and culture viability after 21 days. Our results then showed that PPy-modified surfaces are an alternative culture method that increases nerve cells survival from lumbar spinal cord cell culture by preserving its electrical and morphological features.

An artificial liver support system is based on the functional hepatocytes being cultured inside a bioreactor; this technique has being used as an effective therapy for treating chronic liver diseases in recent times. This work evaluates different parameters such as cell viability and metabolic function of the hepatocytes when cultured on a hybrid scaffold. The scaffold was built using a polypyrrole plasma coated polymer layer seeded with endothelial matrix for efficient three-dimensional hepatocyte growth within a radial flow bioreactor. The flow rate inside the bioreactor was 7 ml / min. The parts for the bioreactor where either built using food-grade steel and/or glass or the scaffolds comprise a Poly (L-lactic acid)-coated polypyrrole iodine layer or not for HepG2 culture. The results show that the Poly (L-lactic acid)-coated scaffolds increased cell proliferation by 30%, protein production by 16% and albumin secretion by 40% compared with the non-coated scaffold. All experiments were performed thrice and data was analysed by ANOVA and Tukey statistic models with a p<0.05. The obtained results demonstrated that radial flow bioreactors in conjunction with hybrid scaffolds improve hepatocytes' physiological and functional properties and could be used as an alternative therapy for patients with liver diseases.Keywords: hepatocytes, glow discharge polymerization, polypyrrole, PLLA, HUVEC, biorreactor. Correspondencia:Odin Ramírez-Fernández 166 Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Biomédica · volumen 37 · número 3 · Sep-Dic, 2016 RESUMENUn sistema de soporte hepático artificial se basa en utilizar hepatocitos funcionales cultivados en un biorreactor; esta técnica ha demostrado que se puede utilizar como una terapia eficaz para el tratamiento de enfermedades crónicas del hígado en los últimos tiempos. Este trabajo evalúa diferentes parámetros tales como la viabilidad celular y la función metabólica de los hepatocitos cuando se cultivan en un andamio híbrido. El andamio fue construido usando una capa de polímero recubierto de polipirrol plasma, se sembró con un cultivo tridimensional de células endoteliales y de hepatocitos dentro de un biorreactor de flujo radial. La velocidad de flujo en el interior del biorreactor fue de 7 ml / min. Las piezas para el biorreactor fueron construidas con acero de calidad alimentaria y / o vidrio. Los andamios control fueron de ácido L-poliláctico y a estos se les agrego un revestimiento de polipirrol-yodo para el cultivo de HepG2. Los resultados muestran que el ácido L-poliláctico recubierto, aumento la proliferación celular en un 30%, la producción de proteínas en un 16% y la secreción de albúmina por 40% en comparación con el andamio no recubierto. Todos los experimentos se llevaron a cabo tres veces y los datos se analizaron mediante modelos estadísticos ANOVA y Tukey con una p <0.05. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que los biorreactores de flujo radial conjuntamente con andamios híbridos mejoran las propiedades fisiológicas y funcionales hepatocitos y podrían utilizarse ...

Liver cirrhosis is the final stage of continuous hepatic inflammatory activity derived by viral, metabolic or autoimmune origin. In the last years, cirrhosis was considered a unique and static condition; recently was accepted some patients subgroups with different liver injury degrees that coexist under the same diagnosis, with implications about the natural disease history. The liver growth factor (LGF) is a potent in vivo and in vitro mitogenic agent and an inducer of hepatic regeneration (HR) through the hepatocytes DNA synthesis. The clinical implications of the LGF levels in cirrhosis, are not clear and even with having a fundamental role in the liver regeneration processes, the studies suggest that it could be a cirrhosis severity marker, in acute liver failure and in chronic hepatitis. Its role as predictor of mortality in fulminant hepatic insufficiency patients has been suggested.HR is one of the most enigmatic and fascinating biological phenomena. The rapid volume and liver function restoration after a major hepatectomy (>70%) or severe hepatocellular damage and its strict regulation of tissue damage response after the cessation, is an exclusive property of the liver. HR is the clinical applications fundament, such as extensive hepatic resections (>70% of the liver parenchyma), segmental transplantation or living donor transplantation, sequential hepatectomies, isolated portal embolization or associated with in situ hepatic transection, temporary artificial support in acute liver failure and the possible cell therapy clinical applications.

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Background: Esophagogastric variceal bleeding is a serious complication of decompensated cirrhosis.Transjugular intrahepatic portal shunt (TIPS) is a salvage treatment with clear hemostatic results. However, various complications may occur after TIPS, including postoperative liver failure, and the prognosis is very poor once occurs. Liver failure is a common symptom of severe liver disease with a high mortality rate. This study investigated the incidence of liver failure after TIPS treatment for varicose bleeding.Methods: We analyzed the data of patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2013 and December 2018 with portal hypertension with an episode of acute gastroesophageal variceal bleeding. A total of 121 patients were referred to the regional liver unit for TIPS.Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and clinical data were collected. Patients with incomplete data were excluded, and 93 patients were ultimately enrolled in the study. Primary outcomes were morbidity and hospital mortality within 4 weeks of surgery. The data were retrospectively and consecutively collected and evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses to identify risk factors of liver failure. Results:The patients included 58 males (62.37%) and 35 females (37.63%), and the mean age was 58.43±11.85 years. The main cause was hepatitis B virus (HBV), which was found in 50.54% of patient. The overall surgical success rate was 83.87% (78/93). Of 15 treatment-failure patients, 9 (9.68%) died in hospital.Four patients died of liver failure, accounting for 44.44% of postoperative all-cause deaths. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that only hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was an independent risk factor for post-TIPS morbidity [relative risk (RR) 1.156; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.041 to 1.283; P=0.006]. In addition, HVPG was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality within 4 weeks (RR 1.133; 95% CI: 1.021 to 0.539; P=0.016).Conclusions: Post-TIPS liver failure is a serious complication in patients with cirrhosis. Pre-TIPS HVPG level may be used as a predictor of potential short-term postoperative adverse events.