A new method for manufacturing Immunoisolated Bio-artificial Pancreas with cell sheet engineering utilizing temperature-responsive culture dishes

Abstract

The chondrocytes of the cartilage in the canine ear pinna were cultured in temperature-responsive culture dishes and a chondrocytic sheet was harvested by lowering the cultural temperature. Two three-layered chondrocytic sheets were used to encapsulate the islets from rats, and a bio-artificial pancreas was made. Histologically the islets were well encapsulated within chondrocytes and was viable based on AZAN staining and immunohistochemistry using anti-insulin antibody. If the chondrocytic sheet may have immunoisolative function, this new type bio-artificial pancreas may be used for the treatment of diabetes with minimum or no immunosuppressive agents.