Microcapsules and Pancreas Cell Transplants Could Conquer Type-1 Diabetes

“Sustained exenatide delivery via intracapsular microspheres for improved survival and function of microencapsulated porcine islets” demonstrates how drug-carrying microsphere within a cell-bearing microcapsule could be the key to transplanting insulin-secreting pig pancreas cells into human patients whose own cells have been destroyed by type I diabetes.

In the study, the insulin-secreting cells, called islets, showed increased viability and function after spending 21 days inside tiny capsules containing even tinier capsules bearing a drug that makes the cells more resilient to oxygen deprivation. The results were published in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research.

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2/13/2018