Polymer Chemistry in Diabetes Treatment by Encapsulated Islets of Langerhans: Review to 2006

Igor Lacík

doi:10.1071/CH06197

REVIEW

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Polymer Chemistry in Diabetes Treatment by Encapsulated Islets of Langerhans: Review to 2006

Igor Lacík ^A

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^A Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 842 36 Bratislava, Slovak Republic. Email: igor.lacik@savba.sk

Igor Lacík graduated in polymer engineering from the Slovak Technical University, Bratislava, in 1986 and received his Ph.D. from the Slovak Academy of Sciences in 1993. This period included a research assistantship with Robert Gilbert (University of Sydney, 1990–1991) and was followed by postdoctoral positions with FranÃ§oise Candau (CNRS Strasbourg, 1993–1994) and Taylor Wang (Vanderbilt University, 1994–1996). He then joined the Polymer Insitute in Bratislava where he heads the department of special polymers and biopolymers. His main research interests are free-radical polymerization kinetics in the aqueous phase and microencapsulation of bioactive substances for biomedical applications.

Australian Journal of Chemistry 59(8) 508-524 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH06197
Submitted: 25 May 2006 Accepted: 14 August 2006 Published: 8 September 2006

Abstract

Polymeric materials have been successfully used in numerous medical applications because of their diverse properties. For example, development of a bioartificial pancreas remains a challenge for polymer chemistry. Polymers, as a form of various encapsulation device, have been proposed for designing the semipermeable membrane capable of long-term immunoprotection of transplanted islets of Langerhans, which regulate the blood glucose level in a diabetic patient. This review describes the current situation in the field, discussing aspects of material selection, encapsulation devices, and encapsulation protocols. Problems and unanswered questions are emphasized to illustrate why clinical therapies with encapsulated islets have not been realized, despite intense activity over the past 15 years. The review was prepared with the goal to address professionals in the field as well as the broad polymer community to help in overcoming final barriers to the clinical phase for transplantation of islets of Langerhans encapsulated in a polymeric membrane.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Assistance Agency under contract numbers APVT-51-016002 and APVV-51-033205, and the Centre of Excellence of the Slovak Academy of Sciences CEDEBIPO. I.L. is grateful to Professor R. G. Gilbert, Director of KCPC at the University of Sydney, and Dr B. Morrison from BASF Australia for the airfare to attend the 16th annual meeting of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and the 28th Australasian Polymer Symposium in New Zealand in February 2006. I.L. also wishes to thank David Hunkeler, Director of Aqua+Tech Specialties, for comments during manuscript preparation and stimulating discussions over the past years.

References

Polymer Chemistry in Diabetes Treatment by Encapsulated Islets of Langerhans: Review to 2006

Abstract

Acknowledgements

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