Bio Artificial Pancreas - Encapsulation of Human Pancreatic Islet Cells Using Calcium Alginate Micro Beads for the Use in the Clinical Therapy

Objective: Transplantation of pancreatic Islet cells is one of the promising therapies in treating Type 1 diabetes.Shortage of human pancreas and the usage of immuno suppressive drugs are the two main limitations to prevent the transplantation.Microencapsulation an emerging technology in transplantation of islet cells in which islet cells were encapsulated by a bio compatible membrane composed of the molecular sequence of calcium alginate.Methods: Islet cell encapsulated were prepared by using Sodium alginate and Calcium carbonate followed by characterization of UV-VIS spectrometer, Turbidity, Viscosity and Scanning Electron Microscopy.Results: Spherical islet cells were formed and observed under microscope.The viscosity was found to be 310 m Pa S and turbidity was found to be 15 NTU units.From UV-VIS spectrophotometer a max emission peak was observed at 429 nm which shows that cells are entrapped in calcium alginate beads which was further confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy images. Conclusion:From the results it was concluded that Islet cells were entrapped in calcium alginate beads which will be a good therapeutic vehicle of controlled drug delivery system.