Research Progress on Pancreatic Islet Organoids

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a condition that arises from the dysfunction or disruption of pancreatic islets, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels. The advent and development of islet organoids have facilitated insulin-independent treatments and the reproduction of complex tissue or organ development.

This review focuses on the potential and value of islet organoids in both basic research and clinical applications, particularly in addressing the limitations of current diabetes treatments. We further discuss the structural characteristics of islets and explore various methods for obtaining seed cells, constructing organoids, and identifying factors that influence the formation and development of islet organoids.

The online databases, including Pubmed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Embase, and reference lists were searched using the keywords diabetes mellitus, islet organoids, beta cells, material, development, three-dimensional, extracellular matrix, biomechanical, to identify published articles relevant to pancreatic islet organoids.

We examine the structural characteristics of islets and investigate various methods for obtaining seed cells, constructing organoids, and identifying factors that influence the formation and maturation of islet organoids.

To achieve a cure for diabetes, researchers have made significant efforts in islet transplantation and cell-derived insulin-secreting devices. However, organoids still require substantial improvements in cell sources, assembly techniques, and vascularization.

Islet organoids derived from stem cells may enable them to achieve insulin-independent regulation of blood glucose levels, thereby offering new hope for the individuals with diabetes.