Bioartificial liver: implanted artificial cells microencapsulated living hepatocytes increases survival of liver failure rats.

Suspension of living hepatocytes were microencapsulated inside 300 micron mean diameter alginate artificial cells. The galactosamine fulminant hepatic failure rat model was used. 48 hours after the injection of galactosamine, grade II coma hepatic failure rats were divided into pairs. One of the pair was randomly chosen for the control group, and the other for the treated group. Each rat in the control group received one peritoneal injection of microcapsules containing no hepatocytes. Each rat in the treated group received one peritoneal injection of microcapsules containing hepatocytes. The survival of the treated group is significantly higher than the control group.