November 15, 2001
Research: Cure
Question from Istanbul, Turkey:
We found the following information from a Turkish newspaper quoting Dr Desai’s (Illinois University) successful research results. Please give further details on this research and on trials on humans. Is this a real and close hope for a cure in children with type�1 diabetes?
Daily insulin injections could disappear because of a new technique that combines microchip technology and biology. Dr. Tejal Desai of the UIC Department of Bioengineering has developed an implantable biocapsule that delivers insulin to precise locations in the body. The biocapsule, which functions like a pancreas, is protected from the body’s immune system because the insulin is secreted out of pores so small that the larger antibodies can’t get in.
Answer:
Insulin producing cells were encapsulated in Dr Desai’s research in Chicago. These results are very early and need to be replicated in many more animal studies These are exciting scientific results but not ready for large scale studies in humans just yet.
SB
[Editor’s comment: Also, see a previous question and a PubMed abstract Microfabricated immunoisolating biocapsules.
SS]
