The emerging field of pancreatic tissue engineering: A systematic review and evidence map of scaffold materials and scaffolding techniques for insulin-secreting cells

Abstract

A bioartificial endocrine pancreas is proposed as a future alternative to current treatment options. Patients with insulin-secretion deficiency might benefit. This is the first systematic review that provides an overview of scaffold materials and techniques for insulin-secreting cells or cells to be differentiated into insulin-secreting cells. An electronic literature survey was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science, limited to the past 10 years. A total of 197 articles investigating 60 different materials met the inclusion criteria. The extracted data on materials, cell types, study design, and transplantation sites were plotted into two evidence gap maps. Integral parts of the tissue engineering network such as fabrication technique, extracellular matrix, vascularization, immunoprotection, suitable transplantation sites, and the use of stem cells are highlighted. This systematic review provides an evidence-based structure for future studies. Accumulating evidence shows that scaffold-based tissue engineering can enhance the viability and function or differentiation of insulin-secreting cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Towards 3D-Bioprinting of an Endocrine Pancreas: A Building-Block Concept for Bioartificial Insulin-Secreting Tissue

“…8,9 In the overall concept, findings from this study are merged with findings from previously published evidence gap maps, showing that transplantation of scaffold-based constructs alongside or in close proximity to vascular structures has been rarely investigated. 3,8 We propose that attachment in close proximity to neurovascular structures will contribute to vessel formation while avoiding the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reactions that lead to graft loss, as described in clinical islet transplantation. 4 The parametric design allows generation of patient-specific devices that can be customized depending on, for example, the specific anatomy, and overcomes scalability concerns.…”

“…10,11 Previously, we found that scaffold-based tissue engineering is still hampered by reduced vascularization, causing insufficient nutrition, hypoxia, and immunological host-graft reactions. 3 The multitude of studies focusing mostly on aspects of the tissue engineering network have not yet provided structured evidence to define a gold-standard approach. Investigations of a variety of different cells, scaffold materials, fabrication techniques, and transplantation sites have not yet consolidated into an entire process leading towards bioartificial organs.…”

Repositioning Natural Antioxidants for Therapeutic Applications in Tissue Engineering

“…Typically, clinical applications seek to repair or stimulate regeneration of degenerating or aging organs by surgical implantation of biocompatible biomaterials or cell-loaded biomaterials with the appropriate cues, as outlined in the principle of the “tissue engineering triad” [ 1 ]. This discipline is considered to hold a critical place in the future of widespread clinical practice, potentially forming a central role in treating an ageing population suffering from cardiovascular [ 2 , 3 ], musculoskeletal, periodontal [ 4 ], and diabetic conditions [ 5 , 6 ]. However, although promising in concept, the reality is that, in implementation, implanted tissue engineered constructs face obstacles that extend beyond the triad, with particular exposure to a stressed oxidative environment that can disrupt successful cellular repopulation and tissue regeneration after transplantation [ 7 ].…”

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.…”