New multicomponent capsules for immunoisolation.
A new generation of microcapsules based on the use of oligomers which participate in polyelectrolyte complexation reactions has been developed. These freeze-thaw stable capsules have been applied as a bioartificial pancreas and have resulted in normoglycemia for periods of six months in concordant xenotransplantations. The new chemistry permits the control of permeability and mechanical properties over a wide range and can be adapted both to microcapsule and hollow fiber geometries rendering it a robust tool for encapsulation in general. Methods, and metrics, for the characterization of the mechanical properties and permeability of microcapsules are presented.
Laboratory of Polymers and Biomaterials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland.
A
A
Bartkowiak
L
L
Canaple
I
I
Ceausoglu
N
N
Nurdin
A
A
Renken
L
L
Rindisbacher
C
C
Wandrey
B
B
Desvergne
D
D
Hunkeler
D001187:Artificial Organs; D002214:Capsules; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D010539:Permeability; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D002214:Capsules