Microencapsulated islet-like microtissues with toroid geometry for enhanced cellular viability
Transplantation of immuno-isolated islets is a promising strategy to restore insulin-secreting function in patients with Type 1 diabetes. However, the clinical translation of this treatment approach remains elusive due to the loss of islet viability resulting from hypoxia at the avascular transpl...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/161857 |
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| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Transplantation of immuno-isolated islets is a promising strategy to restore insulin-secreting
function in patients with Type 1 diabetes. However, the clinical translation of this treatment
approach remains elusive due to the loss of islet viability resulting from hypoxia at the
avascular transplantation site. To address this challenge, we designed non-spherical islet-like
microtissues and investigated the effect of their geometries on cellular viability. Insulinsecreting microtissues with different shapes were fabricated by assembly of monodispersed
rat insulinoma beta cells on micromolded nonadhesive hydrogels. Our study quantitatively
demonstrated that toroid microtissues exhibited enhanced cellular viability and metabolic
activity compared to rod and spheroid microtissues with the same volume. At a similar level
of cellular viability, toroid geometry facilitated efficient packing of more cells into each
microtissue than rod and spheroid geometries. In addition, toroid microtissues maintained the
characteristic glucose-responsive insulin secretion of rat-derived beta cells. Furthermore,
toroid microtissues preserved their geometry and structural integrity following their
microencapsulation in immuno-isolatory alginate hydrogel. Our study suggests that adopting
toroid geometry in designing therapeutic microtissues potentially reduces mass loss of
cellular grafts and thereby may improve the performance of transplanted islets towards a
clinically viable cure for Type 1 diabetes. |
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