Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2005; 11(11): 1599-1604
Published online Mar 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i11.1599
Evaluation of diffusion in gel entrapment cell culture within hollow fibers
Dan-Qing Wu, Guo-Liang Zhang, Chong Shen, Qian Zhao, Hui Li, Qin Meng
Dan-Qing Wu, Chong Shen, Qian Zhao, Hui Li, Qin Meng, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang Province, China
Guo-Liang Zhang, Institute of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 90209053 and Zhejiang Scientific Project, No. 2003C31042
Correspondence to: Qin Meng, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang Province, China. zhang_meng@hzcnc.com
Telephone: +86-571-87961091 Fax: +86-571-87951227
Received: September 24, 2004
Revised: September 25, 2004
Accepted: October 18, 2004
Published online: March 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate diffusion in mammalian cell culture by gel entrapment within hollow fibers.

METHODS: Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes or human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cells were entrapped in type I collagen solutions and statically cultured inside microporous and ultrafiltration hollow fibers. During the culture time collagen gel contraction, cell viability and specific function were assessed. Effective diffusion coefficients of glucose in cell-matrix gels were determined by lag time analysis in a diffusion cell.

RESULTS: Significant gel contractions occurred in the collagen gels by entrapment of either viable hepatocytes or KB cells. And the gel contraction caused a significant reduction on effective diffusion coefficient of glucose. The cell viability assay of both hepatocytes and KB cells statically cultured in hollow fibers by collagen entrapment further confirmed the existence of the inhibited mass transfer by diffusion. Urea was secreted about 50% more by hepatocytes entrapped in hollow fibers with pore size of 0.1 µm than that in hollow fibers with MWCO of 100 ku.

CONCLUSION: Cell-matrix gel and membrane pore size are the two factors relevant to the limited mass transfer by diffusion in such gel entrapment of mammalian cell culture.

Keywords: Hollow fiber; Mammalian cell culture; Collagen gel entrapment; Diffusion