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Updated: Jul 26, 2026
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A High-content In Vitro Pancreatic Islet β-cell Replication Discovery Platform
Published on: July 16, 2016
Preclinical development of the Islet Sheet.
1Islet Sheet Medical, LLC,San Francisco, California 94131, USA. Rick@isletmedical.com
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|January 19, 2002
Summary
The novel Islet Sheet, a bioartificial pancreas using alginate and islets of Langerhans, successfully maintained euglycemia in pancreatectomized dogs for 84 days, demonstrating potential for diabetes treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Endocrinology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes necessitates functional endocrine pancreas replacement.
- Current treatments like transplantation have limitations.
- Bioartificial pancreas development aims to overcome these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the early development of the Islet Sheet, a novel bioartificial endocrine pancreas.
- To evaluate the metabolic function and survival of encapsulated allogeneic islets in vivo.
- To assess the potential of the Islet Sheet for treating diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of the Islet Sheet using purified alginate and islets of Langerhans.
- Implantation of six Islet Sheets containing 75,000 allogeneic islet equivalents into pancreatectomized dogs.
- Monitoring of metabolic parameters, including blood glucose levels and intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT).
- Histological analysis of explanted Islet Sheets.
Main Results:
- Fasting euglycemia was maintained for 84 days in a pancreatectomized dog.
- Fed blood glucose levels remained below 150 mg/dL.
- Metabolic parameters deteriorated to a diabetic state upon removal of the Islet Sheets.
- Histological analysis confirmed survival of allogeneic islet tissue within the alginate matrix.
Conclusions:
- The Islet Sheet demonstrates potential as a functional bioartificial endocrine pancreas.
- Alginate encapsulation provides immunoprotection and supports islet survival.
- Further development is needed to optimize sheet planarity and long-term function.
