Patent ID: 6365385
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: A61K,C12N

Abstract:
A method of treating isolated pancreatic islet cells, comprising:(a) culturing said cells in a medium containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, an anti-cytokine, an anti-endotoxin, and an antibiotic; then (b) microencapsulating said cells in a biocompatible microcapsule comprising a core and a semipermeable outer membrane, to provide a microcapsule containing living cells therein; and then (c) incubating said microcapsule containing living cells therein with a physiologically acceptable salt to increase the durability of the microcapsule, while retaining the physiological responsiveness of the living cells contained in the microcapsule to produce microcencapsulated islet cells exhibiting a weight gain of not more than 10 percent by weight over a period of one month in physiological saline solution at 37 degrees Celsius and exhibiting at least 150 percent basal insulin secretion in response to 16.7 milliMolar glucose challenge in Krebs-Ringer physiological solution at pH 7.4 after said period of one month.