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Updated: Oct 26, 2025
Human Pancreatic Islet Isolation: Part II: Purification and Culture of Human Islets
Published on: May 26, 2009
PRISM: A Novel Human Islet Isolation Technique
Jason B Doppenberg1,2, Marten A Engelse1, Eelco J P de Koning1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Background:
Successful pancreatic islet isolations are a key requirement for islet transplantation in selected patients with type 1 diabetes. However, islet isolation is a technically complex, time-consuming, and manual process. Optimization and simplification of the islet isolation procedure could increase islet yield and quality, require fewer operators, and thus reduce cost.
Methods:
We developed a new, closed system of tissue collection, washing, buffer change, and islet purification termed PancReatic Islet Separation Method (PRISM). In the developmental phase, pump and centrifuge speed was tested using microspheres with a similar size, shape, and density as digested pancreatic tissue. After optimization, PRISM was used to isolate islets from 10 human pancreases.
Results:
Islet equivalents viability (fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide), morphology, and dynamic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were evaluated. PRISM could be performed by 1 operator in 1 flow cabinet. A similar islet yield was obtained using PRISM compared to the traditional islet isolation method (431 234 ± 292 833 versus 285 276 ± 197 392 islet equivalents, P = 0.105). PRISM islets had similar morphology and functionality.
Conclusions:
PRISM is a novel islet isolation technique that can significantly improve islet isolation efficiency using fewer operators.
