Application of microcapsulated cells or encystation materials for treating diabetes mellitus / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the application of microcapsuled cell or encystation materials for treating diabetes mellitus at hone or abroad in recent years.METHODS: A computer-based online search of PubMed database was undertaken to identify related articles about the microcapsulated cell or encystation material for treating diabetes mellitus published from 1980 to 2009 by using the key words of "microcapsulation, islet, transplantation" in English. Meanwhile, we search CNKI for relevant articles published between 1999 and 2009 with the same key words in Chinese. The related randomized, controlled, and clinical studies were collected according to conclusion and exclusion criteria.RESULTS: Among 25 articles, there were 46 patients with type I diabetes mellitus, 106 rats, 20 pigs, and 25 monkeys. The experimental results showed that both the microcapsulated islets and non-microcapsulated islets could secrete insulin and decrease blood glucose level. The normal blood glucose level with microcapulated islets could be maintained for a long time.Thus, microcapsule had a great immune isolation reaction.CONCLUSION: After transplantation, microencapsulated islet cells could improve and adjust abnormal glycometabolism of patients with diabetes mellitus; furthermore, the immunoisolation effect of microcapsule could eliminate or relieve the immunological rejection of receptors to allograft or xenograft, while it could also relieve or eliminate dependence on immunosuppressive drugs. Appropriate material of microcapsule, reasonable process, advanced equipment, advanced separation and purification technologies of islet, and suitable site for transplantation could improve the function of artificial islet cell, enhance the anti-machinery and chemical strength of microencapsuiated islet, improve biocompatibility, and prolong survival time.