Volume 41, Issue 21 2000275
Communication

Interpenetrating Network of Alginate–Human Adipose Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel for Islet Cells Encapsulation

Jun Kit Wang

Jun Kit Wang

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, N4.1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798 Singapore

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Nicole Mein Ji Cheam

Nicole Mein Ji Cheam

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, N4.1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798 Singapore

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Scott Alexander Irvine

Scott Alexander Irvine

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, N4.1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798 Singapore

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Nguan Soon Tan

Nguan Soon Tan

School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232 Singapore

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Subbu Venkatraman

Subbu Venkatraman

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Blk EA, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575 Singapore

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Chor Yong Tay

Corresponding Author

Chor Yong Tay

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, N4.1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798 Singapore

School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551 Singapore

Environmental Chemistry and Materials Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, 1 CleanTech Loop, CleanTech One, Singapore, 637141 Singapore

[email protected]

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First published: 19 August 2020
Citations: 18

Abstract

Transplantation of microencapsulated islet cells holds great potential for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, its clinical translation is hampered by the peri-transplantation loss of islet viability and functionality in the microcapsules. In this work, a novel islet cells biomimetic microencapsulant material that is based on the interpenetrating networks of alginate and extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel composite (AEC) is presented. The ECM component is derived from human lipoaspirate. In situ encapsulation of pancreatic β islet cells (MIN6 β-cells) can be achieved via ionotropic gelation of the alginate matrix and thermal-induced gelation of the pepsin-solubilized ECM pre-gel. Due to the enhanced cell–matrix interaction, islets encapsulated within the AEC microcapsules (≈640 µm) display sevenfold increase in cell growth over 1 week of culture and characteristic glucose-stimulated insulin response in vitro. The results show that the AEC microcapsule is a potent platform to bioaugment the performance of islet cells.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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