Scope and Objectives

1. To fabricate a porous chamber-like device and characterize its material properties. 2. To test the device in a bioreactor for diffusion of oxygen, insulin in response to glucose, and optimization of mechanical properties. 3. To test the device in vitro for internal survival and functioning of islet cells, prevention of immune cell infiltration. 4. To ascertain the viability and functionality of encapsulated islet cells and facilitation of external vascular neo-angiogenesis under in vivo animal models.

Deliverables

This project would generate deliverables in the form of devices for allogenic and xenogeneic cell therapy for a number of diseases including diabetes mellitus. The device should protect the cells from host immune system, while providing the necessary protein delivered to the host.

Scientific Output

Islet cells are isolated and characterized. The devices are made with two different types of membranes with varied composition. In- vitro cell viability cell attachment studies for different membranes are done. In- vivo bio compatibility test is done on Wistar male rats for devices with 2 different membrane combination (PTFE+PES, PTFE+PTFE).

Results and outcome till date

Islet cells are isolated and characterized. The devices are made with two different types of membranes with varied composition.

Societal benefit and impact anticipated

Allogenic cell therapy is possible to many disease conditions without the cells being attacked by immunce cells of host.

Next steps

Detailed characterization of biological responses to the cells for a longer period of time.

Publications and reports

Patents

Scholars and Project Staff

2 research scholars are employed.

Challenges faced

A lot of hurdles, few to include here: 1. material preparation at microscale is very challenging especially to reproduce the uniformity. 2. any materials can not be processed at this scale. 3. Insulin response is impossible to manage for a longer duration of time for the device in vitro.

Other information