23-07-2012, 12:49 PM
The BioArtificial Liver
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Liver
Liver is the largest internal organ and largest gland in the human body.
Functions
The liver produces bile, which aids in the digestion and absorption of fats.
The liver performs several roles in carbohydrate metabolism.
It stores glycogen, vitamins, and other substances.
It synthesizes blood-clotting factors.
It removes wastes and toxic matter from the blood.
The liver is able to regenerate.
Liver Failure
Liver failure is a condition that occurs when large parts of the liver become damaged and the liver is no longer able to function.
Causes Of Liver Failure
There are several causes of liver failure. The most common causes of liver failure are:
Long term, excessive alcohol consumption
Malnutrition
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose
Ingestion of poisonous wild mushrooms
Introduction
A bioartificial liver device (BAL) is an artificial extracorporeal supportive device for an individual who is suffering from liver failure.
The purpose of BAL is to serve as a supportive device.
As the device contains both biological and manufactured components, it is called a "bio-artificial liver."
Functions Of Bioartificial Liver
Cellular components must be purified and every component in it must be clearly identified.
The cellular preparation must be clearly shown to not transmit any infectious diseases of any kind.
The cellular component must stay viable and active.
The device must be able to introduce the therapeutic and regulatory molecules that a healthy liver provides, and it must also filter substances from the blood the way that the normal liver does.
Blood must perfuse properly through system.
Advantages
BAL therapy is marked as the most promising solution to bridge to liver transplantation or to liver regeneration.
It performs metabolic functions in addition to detoxification.
Bioartificial liver (BAL) systems have shown their efficacy in experimental Acute liver failure (ALF) models in small and large animals, and have shown to be suitable and safe in phase 1 studies in humans with ALF.
Disadvantages
Maintaining cell viability
Lack of knowledge regarding the necessary metabolic functions.
Possibility of introducing viruses with live cell use