Prevention of morphological changes in alginate microcapsules for islet xenotransplantation.
BACKGROUND
Alginate microcapsule swelling, which occurs as a result of increased hydrophilicity owing to the Ca++ that remains after rapid chelation of the inner alginate core, is a problem in encapsulation. We have previously shown that exchange of the residual divalent Ca++ with the monovalent Na+ through the use of 6 mmol/L Na2SO4 decreases swelling in chelated alginate-polylysine-alginate microcapsules, and this process enhances their durability. The purpose of the present study was to examine the morphology of Na2SO4-treated microcapsules in long-term incubation with the use of serum-supplemented culture medium.


METHODS
Spherical beads of purified alginate (3%) that were gelled with 1.1% CaCl2 were first coated with polylysine, and then with 0.24% alginate. After rapid chelation of the inner alginate core with 55 mmol/L sodium citrate, the capsules were either incubated for 30 minutes in 6 mmol/L Na2SO4 or left untreated (control). Each group of capsules was then placed in a flask containing Ham's culture medium supplemented with 20% porcine serum and incubated at 37 degrees C.


RESULTS
The diameters of Na2SO4-treated capsules only increased modestly from a mean +/- SD of 635 +/- 22.08 to 684.53 +/- 17.86 microm (P<0.0001) by day 7, with no further increases thereafter. In contrast, control capsules showed a steady increase in their mean diameters, which changed from 639.55 +/- 21.44 to 735.48 +/- 108.85 microm (P < 0.0001) by day 66. In addition, whereas treated capsules remained spherical, control capsules showed progressive polymorphism.


CONCLUSIONS
We have developed a new method of making more durable and stable microcapsules that can be used for islet cell xenotransplantation.
Hobbs
H A
HA
Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Kendall
W F
WF
Darrabie
M
M
Opara
E C
EC
D000464:Alginates; D000818:Animals; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid