Artificial Cells, Encapsulation, and Immobilization

The basic principles of artificial cells, encapsulation and immobilization form the basis for a number of bioartificial organs. Hemoperfusion based on encapsulated adsorbent has been in routine clinical uses for many years to remove toxins or drugs from the circulating blood. Blood substitutes based on crosslinked hemoglobin or encapsulated hemoglobin are being developed and tested in phase II and Phase III clinical trials. Enzyme therapy using microencapsulated enzymes have been studied in animal studies and in a preliminary human study. Encapsulation or other ways of immobilization of cells are being developed extensively by many groups. This includes the encapsulation or immobilization of islets, hepatocytes and genetically engineered cells.