Nanoporous biocapsules for the encapsulation of insulinoma cells: Biotransport and biocompatibility considerations

This study investigates whether nanoporous micromachined biocapsules, with uniform membrane pore sizes of 24.5-mn, can be used to encapsulate insulin- secreting cells in vitro. This approach to cell encapsulation is based on m icrofabrication technology whereby immunoisolation membranes are bulk and s urface micromachined to present uniform and well-controlled pore sizes as s mall as 10 mn, tailored surface chemistries, and precise microarchitectures . This study evaluates the behavior of insulinoma cells with micromachined membranes, the effect of matrix configurations within the biocapsule on cel l behavior, as well as insulin and glucose transport through the biocapsule membranes.