Preparation and Characterization of Alginate-Chitosan Microcapsule for Hepatocyte Culture.

This method is used to prepare microencapsulation of hepatocytes. The key steps in the protocol are (a) isolation of porcine hepatocytes, followed by (b) production of hepatocytes encapsulation, and (c) evaluation of encapsulations and hepatocytes. This method of collecting porcine hepatocytes was first used in 2003 (Maruyama et al. Cell Transplant 12:593-598, 2003). Cell encapsulation technology was first introduced by Chang (Science 146:524-525, 1964) and later by Lim and Sun in 1980 (Science 210:908-910, 1980). Since then, it has been well adopted in tissue engineering and controlled delivery of biological therapeutics such as bioartificial liver.