Islet encapsulation - Strategies to enhance islet cell functions
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Date
2007Author
Nguyen, Kytai Truong
Beck, Jonathan
Angus, Ryan
Madsen, Ben
Britt, David
Vernon, Brent
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**Please note that the full text is embargoed** ABSTRACT: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent, costly, and debilitating diseases in the world. Although traditional
insulin therapy has alleviated the short-term effects, long-term complications are ubiquitous and harmful.
For these reasons, alternative treatment options are being developed. This review investigates one appealing
area: cell replacement using encapsulated islets. Encapsulation materials, encapsulation methods,
and cell sources are presented and discussed. In addition, the major factors that currently limit cell
viability and functionality are reviewed, and strategies to overcome these limitations are examined. This
review is designed to introduce the reader to cell replacement therapy and cell and tissue encapsulation,
especially as it applies to diabetes.