Patent ID: 7101546

Claim:
A method of providing insulin to a mammal comprising the steps of: (a) encapsulating a cell culture of propagating pancreatic cells having the following properties: (i) the cells have the ability to be passed from one culture vessel to a second vessel at an initial concentration of about 180 cells per square centimeter and expanded to about 1,800 cells per square centimeter; (ii) both the unexpanded and expanded cells are 90% PDX-1 positive and have an insulin:actin mRNA ratio of between 1:100 and 1000:1; and (iii) the cells mature into an aggregate of cells, comprising an encapsulating mantle of CK19-positive cells and an inner cell mass, wherein the aggregate comprises 50–5000 pancreatic cells and has a diameter of between 50 and 300 microns; and, (b) inserting the encapsulated cells into the mammal, whereby the encapsulated cells further mature to insulin secreting cells and provide insulin to the mammal.