Ketoprofen controlled release from composite microcapsules for cell encapsulation: effect on post-transplant acute inflammation.

Cell encapsulation technology raises hopes in medicine and biotechnology. Encapsulated pancreatic islets is a promising approach for the final solution of Type 1 diabetes. Unfortunately, evidence of long-term encapsulated islet graft survival and functional competence lies behind expectancy. Failure was often ascribed to the lack of biocompatibility generating inflammatory response, or limited immunobarrier competence or hypoxia or finally, low beta-cell replication. In order to prevent severe inflammation at early stages after implantation, composite microcapsules were designed. Biodegradable microspheres containing ketoprofen were enveloped into the well established alginate/poly-L-ornithine/alginate capsules. Polyester microspheres were prepared, by solvent evaporation, and characterized for encapsulation efficiency, particle size and in vitro release. Biocompatibility and efficacy to prevent the inflammatory response were studied in vivo. Good encapsulation efficiency and the desired particle size were achieved. In vitro release studies evidenced a high burst effect probably due to a plasticizing effect of both water and ketoprofen. The composite systems showed good biocompatibility and capacity to completely avoid the inflammatory response and the pericapsular cell overgrowth. In conclusion, the inflammatory response in the immediate post-transplant period can be circumvented using multicompartment microcapsules releasing non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs.

Long-term delivery of superoxide dismutase and catalase entrapped in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres: in vitro effects on isolated neonatal porcine pancreatic cell clusters.

To counterbalance the restricted availability of pancreatic islet tissue for transplant in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), new methods to provide viable and functional islet cells need to be established. We report on our approach to enhance in vitro viability and function of isolated neonatal pancreatic porcine cell clusters (NPCCs) by co-culturing them with PLGA microsphere entrapped, slowly release superoxide dismutase and catalase. These powerful antioxidizing agents were shown to significantly improve morphology, viability and function, as assessed by microscopy, molecular, biochemical and functional studies, of the incubated NPCCs, as compared to control. Preliminarily, in vitro exposure of isolated NPCCs to slow release microsphere-embedded SOD and CAT could permit or contribute to overcome hurdles associated with scarcity in islet tissue procurement for transplant in T1DM.

Grafts of microencapsulated pancreatic islet cells for the therapy of diabetes mellitus in non-immunosuppressed animals.

Pancreatic-islet-cell transplantation may reverse hyperglycaemia in diabetic recipients that undertake general pharmacological immunosuppression. A major challenge that remains is the need to avoid immunosuppression associated with the use of allogeneic or heterologous islet cells. In the present study we demonstrate the use of microencapsulation of cells using artificial biocompatible and permselective membranes prepared with alginic acid derivatives and polyamino acids. While characterization of the microcapsule constituent polymers continues to progress, other technical issues such as definition of the immunobarrier capacity, biocompatibility, size, shape and graft site have come into sharper focus. Assessment of microcapsules properties, in order to establish possible guidelines for fabrication of reproducible membranes, and results from both in vitro functional testing, and in vivo encapsulated-islet-transplant outcome in several animal models of diabetes are reported.