Patent ID: 7323323

Claim:
A method of preparing encapsulated xenotransplantable porcine islet cells comprising the steps of: (i) harvesting the pancreas of piglets from −20 to +10 days full term gestation; (ii) extracting pancreatic β islet cells from the harvested pancreas; (iii) exposing the islets to nicotinamide either before or after the step of harvesting; (iv) exposing said islets to lignocaine either before or after the step of harvesting; and (v) optionally exposing said islets to ciprofloxacin either before or after the step of harvesting; wherein said method further comprises the step of encapsulating the islet cells with a biocompatible xenotransplantable material, said material being both glucose and insulin porous, the biocompatible xenotransplantable material comprising alginate.