Integration of islet/beta-cell transplants with host tissue using biomaterial platforms.

Integration of islet/beta-cell transplants with host tissue using biomaterial platforms. Endocrinology. 2020 Sep 07;: Authors: Clough DW, King JL, Li F, Shea LD Abstract Cell-based therapies are emerging for Type I diabetes mellitus (T1D), an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin producing pancreatic β-cells, as a means to provide long term restoration of glycemic control. Biomaterial scaffolds provide an opportunity to enhance the manufacturing and transplantation of islets or stem cell-derived β-cells. In contrast to encapsulation strategies that prevent host contact with the graft, recent approaches aim to integrate the transplant with the host to facilitate glucose sensing and insulin distribution, while also needing to modulate the immune response. Scaffolds can provide a supportive niche for cells either during the manufacturing process, or following transplantation at extrahepatic sites. Scaffolds are being functionalized to deliver oxygen, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, or trophic factors, and may facilitate co-transplantation of cells that can enhance engraftment or modulate immune responses. This local engineering of the transplant environment can complement systemic approaches for maximizing β-cell function or modulating immune responses leading to rejection. This review discusses the various scaffold platforms and design parameters that have been identified for the manufacture of hPSC derived Î...
Source: Endocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tags: Endocrinology Source Type: research