title: Encapsulated islets in diabetes treatment.
abstract: Encapsulation of insulin-producing cells in semipermeable membranes has the potential to provide an effective treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes with little or no immunosuppression of the host. Improvements in alginate, a marine polysaccharide commonly used for cell encapsulation, have revived interest in this material. However, serious obstacles, including a reliable cell source and a better understanding of immune acceptance issues, remain to be addressed before a clinically applicable therapeutic procedure based on encapsulated cells becomes available.
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002214:Capsules; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002214:Capsules; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid