title: Contributions of a finite element model for the geometric optimization of an implantable bioartificial pancreas.
abstract: The extravascular implantation of islets of Langerhans immunoprotected within a permselective membrane is a promising method to treat diabetes mellitus. However, oxygen limitation due to purely diffusive solute transport was considered to provoke tissue necrosis and graft failure. We built a solute transport model based on a finite element method aiming at optimizing the hollow fiber geometry. With a low islet density, the influence of oxygen axial flux inside the fiber was underlined and a characteristic length for oxygen supply was introduced. This study allowed the conclusion that islet density must be adapted to the fiber diameter chosen for implantation.
authors.affiliation: Technological University of Compiègne,UMR 6600 CNRS. Department of Biological Engineering, Compiègne, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dulong
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Legallais
mesh_terms: D001187:Artificial Organs; D001692:Biological Transport; D019295:Computational Biology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D004058:Diffusion; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen