Development of a Biohybrid Artificial Liver: A Comprehensive Review of Technologies, Challenges, and Future Directions

The development of a biohybrid artificial liver (BAL) is a critical objective in biomedical engineering, offering a potential solution to the global shortage of donor organs for liver transplantation. This paper reviews the foundational principles, key technological components, and significant challenges in creating a functional BAL. We explore the essential role of living cellular components, such as hepatocytes and stem cells, in replicating the liver’s complex metabolic and synthetic functions, which are absent in non-biological devices. The review details the challenges of integrating these biological components with synthetic materials and microfluidic systems to mimic the liver’s native microenvironment, with a particular focus on the critical issue of vascularization. We also provide a comprehensive analysis of the economic and manufacturing hurdles, including the high cost of materials and the lack of a standardized, scalable production infrastructure. The paper concludes by outlining future directions, including the use of 3D bioprinting and genetic engineering, that are essential for translating this promising technology from the laboratory to widespread clinical application.