Emmanuel Opara
Germany
Review Article
Strategies to Combat Hypoxia in Encapsulated Islet Transplantation
Author(s): Rahul Krishnan, David Ko, Tori Tucker, Emmanuel Opara, Clarence E Foster III, David Imagawa, Michael Stamos and Jonathan RT LakeyRahul Krishnan, David Ko, Tori Tucker, Emmanuel Opara, Clarence E Foster III, David Imagawa, Michael Stamos and Jonathan RT Lakey
Islet transplantation has been shown as a possible treatment for Type 1 Diabetes. However, immediately following transplantation, islets face acute hypoxic stress due to the lack of vascularization of the newly transplanted tissue. It has been observed that up to 60% of newly transplanted islets perish during the first 48 hours post-transplantation as a direct result of hypoxic injury. This period of hypoxia needs to be reduced to maintain transplanted islet efficacy. Optimal function of immunoisolated islets requires adequate supply of oxygen to metabolically active insulin producing β-cells. An improved understanding of the interplay between oxygen diffusion and consumption rate in devices is critical for the design of means to improve oxygen supply to islets. Post-transplant graft failure and islet death have been postulated to result from hypoxia .. View More»
