THE PREPARATION OF FRUCTOSE-MODIFIED CHITOSAN MICROCARRIERS AND CULTURE OF PRIMARY RAT HEPATOCYTES

The fructose modified chitosan microcarries (CMs) 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 hepatocytes cultured on CMs was observed using phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope, and the metabolic activities were measured. Rat hepatocytes cultured on CMs retained the spherical shape as they have in vivo and had high metabolic activities. Fructose can enhance the metabolic activity of hepatocytes and the modified CMs are promising scaffold for hepatocytes attachment.