RESUMO
Immunoisolation membranes have been developed for various cell encapsulations for therapeutic purposes. However effective encapsulation systems have been hindered by low oxygen (O2) permeability or imperfect immunoisolation caused by either low porosity or non-uniform pore geometry. Here, we report an encapsulation method that uses an anodic aluminum oxide membrane formed by polyethylene oxide self-assembly to obtain nanochannels with both high selectivity in excluding immune molecules and high permeability of nutrients such as glucose, insulin, and O2. The extracorporeal encapsulation system composed of these membranes allows O2 flux to meet the O2 demand of pancreatic islets of Langerhans and provides excellent in vitro viability and functionality of islets.
Assuntos
Óxido de Alumínio/farmacologia , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/citologia , Membranas Artificiais , Nanotecnologia/métodos , Animais , Separação Celular/métodos , Glucose/metabolismo , Insulina/metabolismo , Ilhotas Pancreáticas/metabolismo , Transplante das Ilhotas Pancreáticas/métodos , Oxigênio/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-DawleyRESUMO
Superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces were studied with an eye to industrial applications and use as research tools. Conventional methods involve complex and time-consuming processes and cannot feasibly produce large-area three-dimensional surfaces. Here, we report robust and large-area alumina nanowire structures with superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic properties, generated by an inexpensive single-step anodization process that can routinely create arbitrary three-dimensional shapes. This process is expected to open up diverse applications.
Assuntos
Óxido de Alumínio/química , Nanofios/química , Eletrodos , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Propriedades de SuperfícieRESUMO
Nanochannel membranes have been fabricated for many biological and engineering applications. However, due to low-throughput process, high cost, unsuitable pore geometries, and low chemical/mechanical stability, we could not have obtained optimized nanochannel membranes for biomedical treatments as well as a novel building block for artificial cell membranes. Here, we report a PEO-functionalized straight nanochannel array based on a self-organized porous alumina for a novel biofilter with antifouling, superior immunoprotection and high permeability of nutrients, which have excellent in vivo mechanical stability. Thus, our strategy may provide great advantages in novel membrane biotechnologies such as biofiltration, artificial cells, and drug delivery.