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Mini‐review: Islet transplantation to create a bioartificial pancreas
Author(s) -
Mikos Antonios G.,
Papadaki Maria G.,
Kouvroukoglou Stylianos,
Ishaug Susan L.,
Thomson Robert C.
Publication year - 1994
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.260430717
Subject(s) - islet , transplantation , immune system , pancreatic islets , medicine , biology , diabetes mellitus , immunology , surgery , endocrinology
Donor scarcity precludes the use of pancreatic transplantation to treat type I diabetes. Xenogeneic islet transplantation offers the possibility of overcoming this problem; however, it entails the use of immunoisolation devices to prevent immune rejection of the transplanted islets. These devices consist of a semipermeable membrane, which surrounds the islets and isolates them from the host's immune system, while allowing the passage of insulin and essential nutrients, including glucose. Problems associated with proposed device designs include diffusion limitations, biocompatibility, device retrieval in the event of failure, and mechanical integrity. Microencapsulation appears to be the most promising system of immunoisolation, however, the design of a device suitable for human clinical use remains a challenge. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.