The Diabetes Research Institute has been working on its BioHub, which is a bioengineered organ for treatment of type 1 diabetes. Here is a closer look at this exciting technology as it begins clinical trials.
The Liver is not an Ideal Home for Islets
Researchers have been transplanting islet cells into the liver to restore natural insulin production in those with type 1 diabetes. Some patients have been living without the need for insulin injections for more than a decade. Despite these achievements, over time, many of the cells are lost and patients must resume insulin therapy. That’s because the liver is not an ideal home for the cells.
The Diabetes Research Institute has been working on its BioHub, which is a bioengineered organ for treatment of type 1 diabetes. Here is a closer look at this exciting technology as it begins clinical trials.
Testing an Alternate Transplant Site
In a Phase I/Phase II clinical trial, the DRI is set to test the omentum, the inside lining of the abdomen, as a new transplant site. The omentum is rich with blood vessels, is easily accessed surgically, and it has the same insulin drainage characteristics of the pancreas, among other benefits. It can also be an excellent site for a DRI BioHub.
The Diabetes Research Institute has been working on its BioHub, which is a bioengineered organ for treatment of type 1 diabetes. Here is a closer look at this exciting technology as it begins clinical trials.
Developing the DRI BioHub
In its first clinical trial, researchers will transplant islets in the omentum within a biological structure that provides the spacing and support, like in their native pancreas. This approach uses the patient’s own plasma together with thrombin. When combined, they create a gel-like substance that will stick to the omentum and hold the islets in place. This “scaffold” one of the platforms considered for a DRI BioHub.
The Diabetes Research Institute has been working on its BioHub, which is a bioengineered organ for treatment of type 1 diabetes. Here is a closer look at this exciting technology as it begins clinical trials.
Helping the Cells Survive and Thrive
The area is folded over and stitched to create a protective “pouch.” Over time, the body will absorb the gel, leaving the islets intact. This biodegradable scaffold platform allows researchers to add vital components that help optimize islet acceptance and promote their long-term survival and function, such as oxygen promoters, helper cells, local drug delivery and islets encapsulated with protective coatings.
The Diabetes Research Institute has been working on its BioHub, which is a bioengineered organ for treatment of type 1 diabetes. Here is a closer look at this exciting technology as it begins clinical trials.
Testing Other BioHub Platforms
The DRI is working with the FDA to gain approval to test a silicone scaffold as a platform for a BioHub, utilizing the omentum as a transplant site. These sponge-like discs are made of only 10 percent silicone. The rest is open space, creating tiny pores that can house thousands of insulin-producing cells of many shapes and sizes. The silicone scaffold approach can also accommodate the vital components that are needed to mimic the optimal environment of the native pancreas.
