Tissue engineering approaches and generation of insulin-producing cells to treat type 1 diabetes

The Role of Biotechnology in Latest Therapeutic Approaches for Diabetes Mellitus

“…Studies indicate that the differentiation of MSCs can lead to the generation of Insulin-Producing Cells (IPCs) with tissue engineering techniques. Scaffolds can provide the microenvironment that enhances the differentiation of MSCs to IPCs, increases metabolic activity, produces insulin and pancreatic-specific transcription factors, and prevents cell death 8 . As mentioned before, islet transplant as a cell-based therapy is considered in DM treatment and enhanced post-transplantation insulin independence to 5 years in 50% of patients undergoing the intervention.…”

“…Based on the limitations of this method, tissue engineering is needed for developing extracellular matrix molecules for insulin-producing cells in three-dimensional (3D) structures to make cells more viable and potent for secreting insulin and use encapsulation to limit the host’s immune attack 9 . Various islet-encapsulating methods, including macro-, micro-, and nano-encapsulation and bioprinting, exist but have limitations that hinder the widespread implementation in the clinical phase 8 .…”