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A novel model of solute transport in a hollow‐fiber bioartificial pancreas based on a finite element method
Author(s) -
Dulong JeanLuc,
Legallais Cécile,
Darquy Sylviane,
Reach Gérard
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.10230
Subject(s) - islet , artificial pancreas , insulin , fiber , oxygenation , pancreas , chemistry , materials science , oxygen , biomedical engineering , biophysics , endocrinology , medicine , diabetes mellitus , biology , biochemistry , type 1 diabetes , composite material , organic chemistry
Extravascular bioartificial pancreas based on hollow fiber seems to be a promising treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, solutes mass‐transport limitations in such a device could explain its lack of success. To determine critical device parameters, we have developed a novel tridimensional model based on finite element method for glucose, insulin, and oxygen diffusion around an islet of Langerhans encapsulated in a hollow‐fiber section. A glucose ramp stimulation was applied outside the fiber and diffused to the islet. Concomitantly, a stationary oxygen partial pressure was applied outside the fiber, and determined local oxygen partial pressure on the islet environment. An insulin secretion model stimulated by a glucose concentration ramp and corrected by the local oxygen partial pressure was also implemented. Insulin secretion by the islet was thus computed as a response to glucose signal. The model predictions notably showed that the fiber radius had to be small enough to favor a fast response for insulin secretion and to ensure a maximal oxygen partial pressure in the islet environment. Besides the effect of fiber radius, a better islet oxygenation could be achieved by adjustments on the islet density, i.e., on the fiber length dedicated to a single islet. These hints should allow the future proposal of an optimal design for an implantable bioartificial pancreas. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 78: 576–582, 2002.