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Abstract
To offer a more effective microencapsulation technique of islets for the treatment of diabetes, we have developed a new type of microcapsule comprising sulphate glucomannan-alginate barium (SGA). We compared it with traditional microencapsulated APA (alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate) and ABa (Ba2+-alginate) microencapsulated islets. These three types of microencapsulated islets were prepared and cultured in vitro and we studied their morphology and activity. To determine their effects on insulin secretion and cytokine production (MCP-1, IL-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α) the islets were transplanted into diabetic rats. There was no difference in the morphologies of the three types of microencapsulated islets or their insulin secretory capacity in vitro. However, the SGA microencapsulated islets had higher activity and produced more insulin than the APA and ABa microencapsulated islets after transplantation. Normoglycemia was maintained for longer in the SGA-transplanted group than in the other two groups. The concentrations of cytokines in the peritoneal fluid were significantly decreased in the SGA group, as was the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the microcapsules. In conclusion, the novel SGA microencapsulated islets can maintain normoglycemia in diabetic rats without immunosuppression for longer than APA and ABa microencapsulated islets.