Crosslinked chitosan microcarries were prepared by the reaction of glutaraldehyde with fructose-modified chitosan. Various factors that influence the preparation were studied and the reaction conditions were optimized. Morphology of rat hepatocyte cultured on chitosan microcarriers was observed using phase contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscope, the metabolic activity was measured. Rat hepatocytes cultured on chitosan microcarrier retained the spherical shape as they have in vivo and had high metabolic activity. Fructose can enhance the metabolic activity of hepatocytes and fructose-modified chitosan microcarrier is a promising scaffold for hepatocytes attachment, which can be used in bioartificial liver support system.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Fructose ; chemistry ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Liver, Artificial ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Rats