Human islet viability and function is maintained during high-density shipment in silicone rubber membrane vessels

Area of Science:

• Transplantation Science
• Islet Biology
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Shipping human islets (IE) is crucial for research and clinical applications.
• Maintaining islet viability and function during transit is essential.
• Gas-permeable silicone rubber membrane (SRM) vessels offer a promising solution to mitigate hypoxia-related risks during islet transport.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of SRM vessels for shipping human islets at high densities.
• To assess the impact of high-density shipping on islet viability, quantity, and function.
• To determine the feasibility of shipping entire islet isolations in a single SRM vessel.

Main Methods:

• Human islets were isolated and cultured for at least 2 days.
• Islets were shipped in SRM vessels under low-density (LD) and high-density (HD) conditions, with a microcentrifuge tube negative control (NC).
• Post-shipment assessments included oxygen consumption rate (OCR/DNA), DNA content, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and in vivo transplantation studies.

Main Results:

• High-density shipping in SRM vessels did not reduce post-shipment OCR/DNA compared to low-density shipping.
• Islet viability and function were preserved in the HD condition.
• The negative control (NC) group showed a substantial reduction in OCR/DNA.

Conclusions:

• Entire human islet isolations (up to 400,000 islets) can be shipped in a single, larger SRM vessel.
• This method ensures no negative effect on islet viability, ex vivo function, and in vivo function.
• SRM vessels provide a cost-effective, safe, and simple solution for human islet transport.