Abstract: Methods of maintaining animal cells for product production, for supporting hepatocyte function and viability to treat a patient suffering from hepatic failure and for preserving tissue-specific function of mammalian cells are carried out with a bioreactor containing a feed and waste chamber and a cell chamber separated by a selectively permeable membrane. Within the cell chamber, a biocompatible contracted three-dimensional gel matrix entraps animal cells or genetic modifications thereof, and a liquid phase contains a concentrated solution of the cell product. The bioreactor uses only two chambers to achieve three distinct zones within the bioreactor. The bioreactor can be of either hollow fiber or flat-bed configuration. In the configuration using hollow fibers, the two fluid paths correspond to the cavity surrounding the hollow fibers (the extracapillary space), and to the lumens of the hollow fibers themselves. Both fluid paths have inlet and outlet ports.

Abstract: A bioreactor apparatus comprising two chambers, a feed and waste chamber and a cell chamber separated by a selectively permeable membrane. Within the cell chamber, a biocompatible three-dimensional matrix entraps animal cells or genetic modifications thereof. Due to the presence of this biocompatible matrix, the cell chamber generally has a gel phase, i.e., the biocompatible matrix and cells, and a liquid phase containing a concentrated solution of the cell product to be harvested. Thus, the bioreactor of this invention uses only two chambers to achieve three distinct zones within the apparatus. A bioartificial liver is based on a bioreactor of the type having two fluid paths separated by a permeable medium. The bioreactor can be of either hollow fiber or flat-bed configuration. In the configuration using hollow fibers, the two fluid paths correspond to the cavity surrounding the hollow fibers (the extracapillary space), and to the lumens of the hollow fibers themselves.