Large-scale production of Ba²⁺-alginate-coated islets of Langerhans for immunoisolation

Islet xenografts immunisolated in alginate capsules have been proposed by many groups for clinical islet transplantation. However, diffusion limitations and the total volume of microcapsules required for transplantation are, among other things, factors which have so far prevented successful clinical application. In this study, these problems have been overcome by immobilisation of rat and porcine islets in a Ba²⁺-cross-linked alginate matrix using an air jet droplet generator technique in combination with subsequent density-gradient purification. This procedure leads to high yields of islets coated with a tailored, thin layer of cross-linked alginate which protects the islets against cytotoxic compounds present in human plasma. The recovery of encapsulated rat and porcine islets was about 70%. Empty capsules were nearly completely removed. Using this technique, the total volume of the resulting microcapsules increased only by a factor of about 1.5 compared to the volume of free islets. The technique can be used for large-scale production of coated islets.