Polymeric Scaffolds for Pancreatic Tissue Engineering: A Review

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of diabetes, with one in every eleven individuals worldwide suffering from this debilitating disease. As the available treatment options fail to reduce disease progression, novel avenues such as the bioartificial pancreas are being given serious consideration. In the past decade, the research focus has shifted towards the field of tissue engineering, which helps to design biological substitutes for repair and replacement of non-functional or damaged organs. Scaffolds constitute an integral part of tissue engineering; they have been shown to mimic the native extracellular matrix, thereby supporting cell viability and proliferation. This review offers a novel compilation of the recent advances in polymeric scaffolds, which are used for pancreatic tissue engineering. Furthermore, in this article, the design strategies for bioartificial pancreatic constructs and their future applications in cell-based therapy are discussed.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Organoids: The Shining Light at the End of the Tunnel for Drug Response Prediction and Personalized Medicine

“…However, its murine cancer origin and not well-defined growth factor composition, along with its batch-to-batch variation, are raising more and more questions in the frame of its clinical use. Several approaches involving hydrogels of natural or synthetic polymers, “organ on chip”/bioprinting, and native ECM derived from organ decellularization have been developed to grow organoids from various tissues [ 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ]. Surprisingly, only few studies reported the development of Matrigel alternatives specifically for pancreas or PDAC organoids.…”

Culture Systems of Isolated Pancreatic Islets with Extracellular Matrix Biomimetics as Tissue-Engineered Constructs of the Pancreas

“…In the last decade, as an alternative to traditional surgical methods of treatment, there was an active development of technologies of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) to restore the structure and functions of damaged tissues/organs. These technologies are aimed at creating tissueengineered constructs (TECs), including a tissue-engineered construct of the pancreas (TECP), performing an insulin-producing function [1,2]. The relevance of the search for new methods of treating type 1 diabetes mellitus is beyond doubt.…”

“…This problem can be solved by the development of the TECP, often referenced in publications as a bioarti cial pancreas, formed on the basis of pancreatic islets or other insulin-producing cellular components [9] and scaffolds [10,11] which contribute to the preservation of the structure and function of islets in vitro and in vivo. The advantage of using the islets as a cellular component lies in the accumulated secretion of hormones and speci c biologically active endogenous polypeptides by all types of islet cells [1]. The obtainment of the viable functionally active islets where β-cells constitute the main cell population is a de ning step in the development of the TECP.…”

“…However, in the process of constructing the TECP, it is necessary to take into account that not only β-cells, but also other types of islet cells participate in its overall functionality. This is the advantage of creating bioarti cial pancreas based on islets [1].…”

Comparative analysis of the secretory capacity of islets of langerhans cultured with biopolymer-based collagen-containing hydrogel and tissue-specific matrix

“…Созданию биомедицинского клеточного продукта -биоинженерной конструкции поджелудочной железы (ПЖ) препятствуют проблемы, связанные с поддержанием жизнеспособности функционально активных изолированных островков Лангерганса (ОЛ) [1,2]. Известно, что в процессе изоляции ОЛ утрачивают васкуляризацию, иннервацию, а также лишаются связей с внеклеточным матриксом (ВКМ), играющим значимую роль в регуляции множества аспектов физиологии островков, включая выживаемость, пролиферацию и секрецию инсулина [3,4].…”