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Storage and microencapsulation of islets for transplantation
K Charles1, R C Harland, D Ching
1Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Cell Transplantation
|April 28, 2000
Summary
Cryopreservation of pancreatic islets for up to one month maintains their function after thawing and microencapsulation. This finding supports islet banking for transplantation, improving accessibility for patients requiring islet cell therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Transplantation Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Microencapsulation enhances immunoisolation for pancreatic islet transplantation.
- Current islet isolation, purification, encapsulation, and transplantation protocols are labor-intensive and not routine.
- Reliable islet storage methods are needed, with cryopreservation emerging as a viable option for islet banking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro function of cryopreserved pancreatic islets after thawing and subsequent microencapsulation.
- To determine if cryopreservation and microencapsulation impact islet function for transplantation.
Main Methods:
- Rat islets were isolated and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for 1 week or 1 month.
- Following thawing, islets were tested either unencapsulated or microencapsulated in a polylysine-alginate membrane.
- Islet function was assessed by measuring insulin secretion in response to low (3.3 mM) and high (16.7 mM) glucose concentrations in vitro.
Main Results:
- Both unencapsulated and microencapsulated cryopreserved islets demonstrated a significant twofold increase in insulin secretion within 10 minutes of high glucose stimulation (p < 0.01).
- Islets cryopreserved for up to 1 month retained their functional viability after thawing and microencapsulation.
Conclusions:
- Cryopreservation of pancreatic islets for up to one month, followed by thawing and microencapsulation, preserves their in vitro functional viability.
- This study validates cryopreservation as a suitable method for islet banking, potentially facilitating broader application of islet transplantation.