Evaluation of asymmetric poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for use in artificial islets
Journal
Biomaterials
Journal Volume
17
Journal Issue
22
Pages
2139-2145
Date Issued
1996
Author(s)
Abstract
Islets of Langerhans surrounded by a semipermeable membrane to prevent the host immunosystem is a potential way to treat type I diabetes mellitus. In this study, a series of poly (vinyl alcohol) membranes were formed by adding polyethylene glycols to create pores in the skin layer. The permeability study showed the skin layer structure had an influence on the diffusion of low molecular weight glucose, vitamin B12 and insulin. The mass transfer coefficient was improved from 1.04×10-4 to 2.16×10-4 cm/sec for glucose, from 2.84×10-5 to 8.36×10-5 cm/sec for vitamin B12 and from 1.45×10-6 to 4.15×10-6 cm/sec for insulin, whereas the passage of immunoglobulin G was completely prevented, indicating that these membranes could be effective in protecting islets from immunorejection. Thus such a membrane is an alternative potential material for artificial islets. In addition, we examined the insulin secretory response of islets separated by a poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane. We found that the insulin-secretion rate is relatively rapid compared to the permeation rate of insulin; thus, the process of the artificial islets is insulin-diffusion-controlled.Islets of Langerhans surrounded by a semipermeable membrane to prevent the host immunosystem is a potential way to treat type I diabetes mellitus. In this study, a series of poly (vinyl alcohol) membranes were formed by adding polyethylene glycols to create pores in the skin layer. The permeability study showed the skin layer structure had an influence on the diffusion of low molecular weight glucose, vitamin B12 and insulin. The mass transfer coefficient was improved from 1.04 x 10-4 to 2.16 x 10-4 cm/sec for glucose, from 2.84 x 10-5 to 8.36 x 10-5 cm/sec for vitamin B12 and from 1.45 x 10-6 to 4.15 x 10-6 cm/sec for insulin, whereas the passage of immunoglobulin G was completely prevented, indicating that these membranes could be effective in protecting islets from immunorejection. Thus such a membrane is an alternative potential material for artificial islets. In addition, we examined the insulin secretory response of islets separated by a poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane. We found that the insulin-secretion rate is relatively rapid compared to the permeation rate of insulin; thus, the process of the artificial islets is insulin-diffusion-controlled.
Subjects
Artificial islet; Diffusion; Glucose; Insulin; Poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane
SDGs
Other Subjects
Cell membranes; Diffusion in solids; Glucose; Insulin; Polyethylene glycols; Polyvinyl alcohols; Vitamins; Artificial islets; Diabetes mellitus; Immunoglobulin G; Immunosystems; Langerhans islets; Secretory response; Semipermeable membranes; Polymeric membranes; cyanocobalamin; glucose; immunoglobulin G; insulin; polyvinyl alcohol; article; artificial membrane; diabetes mellitus; diffusion; evaluation and follow up; insulin release; molecular weight; pancreas islet; priority journal; skin
Type
journal article