Khaberni - Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working on developing an implantable device that could change the lives of Type 1 diabetes patients, providing an alternative to daily insulin injections.
The device contains cells that produce insulin, and it encloses them to protect from immune system rejection, and also includes an internal oxygen generator to keep these cells healthy.
The researchers explain that the pancreatic Islets of Langerhans cells enclosed in this device can stay alive inside the body for at least 90 days, and they produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, according to experiments conducted on mice. (Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans - small clusters of cells inside the pancreas, which are responsible for producing and regulating important blood sugar hormones, the most important of which is insulin).
Daniel Anderson, professor of chemical engineering and member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, says: “Treatment with Islets of Langerhans cells could be revolutionary for patients. Current methods require immune suppression, which is burdensome for some. Our goal is to find a way that enables patients to benefit from cellular therapy without this burden.”
How does the device work?
Typically, Islets of Langerhans cells are extracted from human cadavers or created from stem cells. In both cases, patients need immunosuppressive drugs to prevent their immune system from rejecting the implanted cells.
The new device solves this problem by enclosing the cells in a protective chamber, with oxygen supplied through an internal generator. This generator splits the water vapor in the body into hydrogen and oxygen, where the hydrogen disperses safely, while the oxygen nourishes the cells.
Earlier trials showed that these cells could produce insulin for a month after implantation, but the researchers developed the device to be more resistant to water and cracking, with improved electrical circuits to generate more power for the generator, allowing more oxygen production and the cells to operate more efficiently.
Results of animal trials
Studies on mice and rats showed that the device could work under the skin for 90 days, with the Islets of Langerhans cells producing enough insulin to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range.
The results also showed the potential of using stem cell-derived cells to provide an unlimited future supply, which could make the treatment accessible to any patient who needs it. Although the device does not completely cure diabetes, it provides clear control over blood sugar levels.
Matthew Bucchinick adds: “If we give the cells more time to settle and mature, they can secrete more insulin, which improves disease control.”
The team plans to study the possibility of keeping the devices operational for longer periods, up to two years or more. Researchers are also exploring the possibility of using the same technology to produce other beneficial proteins, such as antibodies, enzymes, and clotting factors, inside the body instead of producing them externally.
