Recent Advance in Technology & Industry of Liver Regeneration : Industrialization II, artificial liver and liver supportive systems

More than nine types of bioartificial liver (BAL) systems have been clinically investigated, and their feasibility as a use of liver support system was partially verified. None of the BAL systems has received marketing approval that needs proof of its safety and survival gains. Due to the lack of functional activity of clinically studied BAL systems and difficulty of establishing manufacturing system for ready-to-use, additional research activities are stagnated. Rapid progressing stem cell technologies can lead to sufficient supply of functional human hepatocytes, and then, the bioartificial liver support system with human cells is widely used to treat patients with liver failure near future.