Short-term immunosuppression reduces fibrotic cellular infiltration around barium-M-alginate microbeads injected intraportally.

INTRODUCTION: One of the major barriers affecting the viability of encapsulated islets is pericapsular fibrotic infiltration (PFI). This study aimed to design strategies to reduce PFI around intraportally injected alginate microbeads. METHODS: Empty, highly purified, barium-M-alginate microbeads (400 microm) were injected intraportally into Lewis rats (3000 beads/rat). Rats (n = 9/group) were treated daily with either rapamycine (RAPA; 1 mg/kg/d p.o.), tacrolimus (TAC; 2 mg/kg/d p.o.), a combination of both, or gadolinium-chloride (GdC13, 20 mg/kg/d i.v., at day -1 and day +4). Treatment was discontinued at 10 days. Three rats/group were sacrificed at 3, 7, and 42 days after transplantation. Cellular composition of PFI was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Severity of the reaction to the beads was determined by measuring the thickness of PFI on histology. RESULTS: The main cellular components of PFI in the liver were macrophages and myofibroblasts. There was a significant (P <.05) reduction in the thickness of PFI in all treated groups, even 6 weeks after transplantation. Encapsulated rat islets showed excellent insulin response to glucose in vitro, with a stimulation index of 3.6 +/- 2.0. CONCLUSION: Combination of highly purified alginate with short-term immunosuppression reduces fibrotic overgrowth around microbeads injected intraportally.

Radiation sterilization of a bifunctional cement formulation of hydroxilapatite-plaster-polymers.

A sterilization method based on the use of gamma ionizing radiation was applied to a cement formulation of hydroxilapatite, plaster and polymers to be used in bone restorations in dental, aesthetic, and neurological surgery. After the cement was exposed to a dose of 21.5 kGy it reached the sterility assurance level which was necessary for its employment in surgical applications as specified by International Standard ISO ordinate 11137: Radiation Sterilization of Health Care Products. No variation in the initial cement composition or processing parameters, such as working or setting time and molding quality was observed due to sterilization. Its characteristics as a drug delivery system were also not affected. Therefore, radiation sterilization provides a feasible alternative to conventional sterilization methods such as dry/wet heat and ethylene oxide.