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3D Bioprinting of Functional Islets of Langerhans in an Alginate/Methylcellulose Hydrogel Blend
Author(s) -
Duin Sarah,
Schütz Kathleen,
Ahlfeld Tilman,
Lehmann Susann,
Lode Anja,
Ludwig Barbara,
Gelinsky Michael
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201801631
Subject(s) - islet , 3d bioprinting , cell encapsulation , pancreatic islets , self healing hydrogels , insulin delivery , materials science , insulin , transplantation , biomedical engineering , ultrapure water , tissue engineering , nanotechnology , diabetes mellitus , type 1 diabetes , medicine , endocrinology , polymer chemistry
Abstract Transplantation of pancreatic islets is a promising strategy to alleviate the unstable blood‐glucose control that some patients with diabetes type 1 exhibit and has seen many advances over the years. Protection of transplanted islets from the immune system can be accomplished by encapsulation within a hydrogel, the most investigated of which is alginate. In this study, islet encapsulation is combined with 3D extrusion bioprinting, an additive manufacturing method which enables the fabrication of 3D structures with a precise geometry to produce macroporous hydrogel constructs with embedded islets. Using a plottable hydrogel blend consisting of clinically approved ultrapure alginate and methylcellulose (Alg/MC) enables encapsulating pancreatic islets in macroporous 3D hydrogel constructs of defined geometry while retaining their viability, morphology, and functionality. Diffusion of glucose and insulin in the Alg/MC hydrogel is comparable to diffusion in plain alginate; the embedded islets continuously produce insulin and glucagon throughout the observation and still react to glucose stimulation albeit to a lesser degree than control islets.