Capsules for diabetics
A group of engineers from the University of Illinois in in vitro studies has proven the effectiveness and durability of capsules containing microspheres and cells that secrete insulin.
Microspheres have been developed for various engineering purposes, but the authors suggested that they could be used for drug delivery and cell transplantation.
The problem of transplanting pancreatic tissue with insulin-secreting beta cells to patients with type I diabetes mellitus has long troubled the minds of researchers around the world. This would eliminate the need for constant monitoring of blood glucose and insulin injections. But it turned out to be a difficult task to put this method of treatment into practice.
This requires viable cells capable of secreting insulin after transplantation.
Scientists used beta cells of the pancreas of pigs. To protect against the immune system of the recipient body, the researchers proposed to "hide" them by packing them in semi-permeable capsules. The size and porosity of the capsules play a key role for the nutrition and respiration of cells in the first few weeks after transplantation, until the blood supply to the new tissue is adjusted. Lack of oxygen (hypoxia) is extremely dangerous for beta cells and is the main cause of cell death.
To maintain the function of the transplanted cells, microspheres containing the drug extenatid (trade name Baeta) were added to the capsules together with them. It stimulates the production of insulin with an increase in glucose levels in the environment surrounding beta cells.
Capsules with beta cells and microspheres with extenatide
(marked with arrows). Source: Kevin Kim.
On average, about two million capsules with microspheres are required to treat one patient. Thanks to engineering solutions, their production takes no more than 20 minutes.
In an experiment, capsules with microspheres with extenatide and pig beta cells demonstrated the ability to release insulin within 21 days after transplantation. The researchers compared the viability of cells placed in capsules with microspheres with cells without them. After three weeks, 71% of the cells remained alive in the first case, and 45% in the second. In addition, cells placed in capsules together with microspheres maintained insulin production in response to glucose intake at a higher level.
The next step that the authors of the study plan to take is to test their development in a living organism on mice and larger animals.
Article B. Lew et al. Sustained exenatide delivery via intracapsular microspheres for improved survival and function of microencapsulated porcine islets is published in Springer US magazine.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru According to the Illinois News Bureau: Tiny drug-delivering capsules could sustain transplanted insulin-producing cells for diabetes.