Cell Encapsulation
SurModics has developed a polymeric system that is able to conformally coat the surfaces of cells. This technology protects cells from the body’s immune processes, while permitting the passage of nutrients and therapeutic proteins. SurModics’ cell encapsulation technology represents one possible mode to deliver intact and biologically active proteins. The potential advantages of such an approach (vs. oral administration or injections), include temporally prolonged expression of the protein, protection of the protein from the proteolytic physiologic environment, and single administration therapy.
Through our collaboration with Novocell, we have developed an islet cell encapsulation technology. The CELLabration™ Cell Encapsulation System allows insulin-producing cells to be transplanted into diabetic hosts without the need for dangerous immune suppressive drug regimens. The potential to normalize blood glucose levels in this manner would represent a major advance in the treatment of diabetic patients. Encapsulated islets have performed well in a variety of animal models and in a human clinical trial.
The CELLabration™ Cell Encapsulation System is a polymeric system designed to conformally coat the surfaces of cells. Using this system, through our collaboration with Novocell, islets (cell clusters that produce insulin) from primate donors were encapsulated and successfully transplanted into diabetic primates, demonstrating the effectiveness of the CELLabration technology. The transplants successfully controlled the blood glucose of the diabetic recipients.
