Volume 44, Issue 23 2300383
Research Article

A Bioartificial Pancreas with “Immune Stealth” and Continuous Oxygen Supply for Islet Transplantation

Yin Zheng

Yin Zheng

Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose and Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education, Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Jinan Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Metabolic Diseases, Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012 China

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Wenyi Yang

Wenyi Yang

Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose and Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education, Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Jinan Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Metabolic Diseases, Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012 China

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Weisong Gao

Weisong Gao

Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose and Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education, Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Jinan Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Metabolic Diseases, Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012 China

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Xinge Zhang

Xinge Zhang

Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China

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Zhongming Wu

Corresponding Author

Zhongming Wu

Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose and Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education, Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

Jinan Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Metabolic Diseases, Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Mo Wang

Corresponding Author

Mo Wang

Vascular Surgury, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, 250021 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 06 September 2023

Dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Institute of Polymer Chemistry at Nankai University

Abstract

Transplantation of microencapsulated islet cells remains a promising strategy for the normalization of glucose metabolism control in type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, vigorous host immunologic rejection, fibrotic overgrowth around the microcapsules, and poor oxygen supply often lead to graft failure. Herein, a bioartificial pancreas is constructed, which incorporates the “stealth effect” based on polyethylene glycol copolymers and the high oxygen-carrying performance of fluorinated nanoparticles. Polycationic poly(l-lysine)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) is successfully coated on the surface of alginate microcapsules through electrostatic interaction, which can not only resist fibrinogen adhesion and avoid excessive fibrosis around the microcapsules but also isolate the host immune system from attacking, achieving a “stealth effect” of microencapsulated islet cells. Furthermore, the coloading of fluoride-based O2 nanocarriers gives them enhanced oxygen-carrying and continuous oxygen supply capabilities, thereby effectively prolonging the survival of islet cells. The intracapsular islet cells still display similar cell viability and almost normal insulin secretion function even in long-term culture under hypoxic conditions. Collectively, here a new approach is opened for microencapsulated islets to efficiently evade host immune attack and improve oxygen supply and a promising strategy is provided for islet transplantation in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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