HEPATIC CELL-MULTIPLYING AGENT AND MULTIPLICATION OF HEPATIC CELL AND RAW MATERIAL FOR HYBRID TYPE ARTIFICIAL LIVER USING THE SAME AGENT

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide a hepatic cell-multiplying agent containing polyvinylbenzyl lactoneamide(PVLA) as an active ingredient, capable of being produced at a low cost, and capable of being readily sterilized. CONSTITUTION:A hepatic cell-multiplying agent contains as an active ingredient the PVLA comprising structural units of the formula and prepared by radical- polymerizing a lactose-substituted styrenic derivative. Hepatic cells can be multiplied by culturing the hepatic cells in the presence of the PVLA, preferably in a culture container coated with a PVLA aqueous solution having a concentration of 0.0001-0.05%(W/V). The hepatic cells multiplied thus can be utilized for hybrid type artificial livers and are useful as a raw material for the PVLA hybrid type artificial livers.