Development of Macro-Encapsulation System for Pancreatic Islet Transplantation using 3D bioprinting

Abstract

Transplantation of pancreatic islets is an attractive treatment for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus [1]. However, islet transplantation has several challenges including function-loss associated with dispersion and host immune system [1]. Cell encapsulation is considered as a promising solution to protect islet from the in vivo environment. Macro- and micro-encapsulation are representative strategies. Macro-encapsulation includes large amount of islets in a single package [2]. In this study, we suggest the macro-encapsulation system produced using 3D bioprinter. Further, this system will be coupled with micro-encapsulation system (dECM bioink) and it has potential to applied to other endocrine cells such as leydig cells.