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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Isolation of Human Islets from Partially Pancreatectomized Patients
Published on: July 30, 2011
Isolation, banking, encapsulation and transplantation of different types of Langerhans islets
Magdalena Antosiak-Iwańska1, Elzbieta Sitarek, Marek Sabat
1Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland. magdalena.antosiak@ibib.waw.pl
Introduction:
The discovery of a cure for diabetes is a dream of many medical researchers. The transplantation of Langerhans islets is a potential treatment of choice for patients with type 1 diabetes as a source of endogenous insulin for the recipient.
Objectives:
The aim of the experiment was to transplant Langerhans islets without immunosuppression. To protect the grafts against transplant rejection, semipermeable membranes could be used.
Material And Methods:
Langerhans islets were isolated from rats and pigs and immunoisolated by encapsulation in alginate-protamine-heparin (APH) or alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate (APA) membranes. Islets were pooled in a controlled manner. Tests for cryopreservation and biocompatibility were also performed.
Results:
The capsules coated with APH are more resistant than the capsules coated with APA. After transplantation of the islets immunoisolated with APA, euglycemia is maintained longer than after transplantation of the islets immunoisolated with APH. Microencapsulation protects the islets from destruction by the host.
Conclusions:
It is feasible to treat experimental diabetes by transplantation of encapsulated Langerhans islets without immunosuppression.
