Long-term implantation of primary islet cell-encapsulating hydrogel microfibers in diabetic mice

This paper describes long-term implantation of primary pancreatic islet cell fibers into diabetic mice. Primary rat pancreatic islet cells were encapsulated in core-shell hydrogel microfibers and implanted into renal capsular space of diabetic mice by using a microcatheter. The blood glucose concentration of the recipient mice were normalized for more than 36 days. This result shows that our cell fiber approach can be applied to long-term implantation and can provide primary islet cells with sufficient microenvironment to promote cellular functions in vivo.