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Authors Borg, D. ; Welzel, P. ; Grimmer, M. ; Friedrichs, J. ; Weigelt, M. ; Wilhelm, C. ; Prewitz, M. ; Stißel, A. ; Hommel, A. ; Kurth, T. ; Freudenberg, U. ; Bonifacio, E. ; Werner, C.
Title Macroporous biohybrid cryogels for co-housing pancreatic islets with mesenchymal stromal cells
Date 15.10.2016
Number 50766
Abstract Intrahepatic transplantation of allogeneic pancreatic islets offers a promising therapy for type 1 diabetes. However, long-term insulin independency is often not achieved due to severe islet loss shortly after transplantation. To improve islet survival and function, extrahepatic biomaterial-assisted transplantation of pancreatic islets to alternative sites has been suggested. Herein, we present macroporous, star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) (starPEG)-heparin cryogel scaffolds, covalently modified with adhesion peptides, for the housing of pancreatic islets in three-dimensional (3D) co-culture with adherent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) as accessory cells. The implantable biohybrid scaffolds provide efficient transport properties, mechanical protection, and a supportive extracellular environment as a desirable niche for the islets. MSC colonized the cryogel scaffolds and produced extracellular matrix proteins that are important components of the natural islet microenvironment known to facilitate matrix-cell interactions and to prevent cellular stress. Islets survived the seeding procedure into the cryogel scaffolds and secreted insulin after glucose stimulation in vitro. In a rodent model, intact islets and MSC could be visualized within the scaffolds seven days after subcutaneous transplantation. Overall, this demonstrates the potential of customized macroporous starPEG-heparin cryogel scaffolds in combination with MSC to serve as a multifunctional islet supportive carrier for transplantation applications.
Publisher Acta Biomaterialia
Wikidata
Citation Acta Biomaterialia 44 (2016) 178-187
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2016.08.007
Tags pancreatic islet mesenchymal stromal cell cryogel heparin poly(ethylene glycol)

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