BIOARTIFICIAL ORGANS .1. SILICA-GEL ENCAPSULATED PANCREATIC-ISLETS FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES-MELLITUS

The primary objective of this work is to evaluate the potential of sil ica gel encapsulated pancreatic islets of Langerhans, or islet tissue, as a means by which insulin secretory capacity might be restored to i ndividuals with insulin dependent, type 1, diabetes mellitus. The enca psulation material under investigation is comprised of sol-gel derived silica ceramic that hardens under conditions of pH, salinity, and tem perature that are not harmful to living cells and organisms. Prelimina ry efficacy has been demonstrated by measurement of insulin secretory response of silica gel encapsulated pancreatic islets in vitro and blo od sugar levels of nonobese diabetic mice in vivo.