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Biomimetic Gelatin-Based 3D Scaffolds for Enhanced Islet Microencapsulation and Functionality in Diabetes Therapy
Rukhiya Salim1, P S Unnikrishnan1, D A Arya1
1Division of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration Technologies, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A
|April 15, 2026
Summary
New gelatin scaffolds (GeVAc and GELDEX) support pancreatic islet culture. The GeVAc scaffold demonstrated superior glucose sensitivity and insulin secretion, showing promise for diabetes therapy via islet transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Pancreatic islet transplantation is crucial for diabetes therapy but faces challenges with reduced islet viability due to loss of native microenvironment.
- Developing advanced tissue-engineered scaffolds is essential to create a supportive microenvironment that mimics native tissue, enhancing islet survival and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of two novel gelatin-based scaffolds, Gelatin vinyl acetate copolymer (GeVAc) and gelatin with oxidized dextran dialdehyde (GELDEX), for pancreatic islet culture.
- To evaluate the physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and functional performance of these scaffolds in supporting pancreatic MIN6 cells.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of freeze-dried, crosslinked GeVAc and GELDEX scaffolds using scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurements.
- Culture of mouse pancreatic MIN6 cells on scaffolds for 7 days, assessing cell adhesion, viability, and extracellular matrix deposition via immunocytochemistry.
- Evaluation of islet functionality through glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assays and gene expression analysis (INS1, PDX1, NKX6.1).
Main Results:
- Both GeVAc and GELDEX scaffolds exhibited hydrophilic, biocompatible, and structurally stable properties.
- MIN6 cells successfully adhered to both scaffolds, forming dense monolayers and multicellular spheroids resembling native islet clusters.
- GeVAc scaffolds demonstrated significantly higher glucose sensitivity and glucose stimulation index (GSI) compared to GELDEX, with higher NKX6.1 gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Scaffold architecture and surface characteristics critically influence the creation of a supportive microenvironment for islet cluster formation.
- Gelatin-based scaffolds, particularly GeVAc, show significant potential as microencapsulation platforms for enhancing islet viability and function in diabetes therapy.
- These findings highlight the promise of engineered scaffolds for improving outcomes in clinical islet transplantation.
