An actuatable cell encapsulation implant: Towards improving transplanted cell viability in Type 1 diabetes and beyond

Non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer account for the highest disease burden worldwide and their prevalence continues to rise. A promising strategy for treating many of these conditions is the use of cell therapies which may serve as a more long-term, sustained therapeutic source to overcome shortcomings in drug release profiles, patient compliance, and treatment longevity. However, there still remains limited clinical translation and adoption despite accelerating rates of research and clinical trials in the field. One of the major reasons for this is the low engraftment and survival of injected cells, which has been shown to range as low as 1-32%. As a result, research has turned towards the development of cell encapsulation implants which would encase transplanted cells in semi-permeable membranes. This would protect them from the host immune system while also ensuring localized therapy delivery and the ability to easily monitor and remove the cells in case of adverse events, which is of substantial value for overcoming regulatory barriers.

Funder

Irish Research Council

Publisher

University of Galway

Rights

CC BY-NC-ND

cbn

Collections

University of Galway Theses (PhD Theses)