Layer by Layer Coating to Augment Graft Function

Transplantation of pancreatic islets represents a proven therapeutic strategy to restore physiologic glycemic control for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who experience life-threatening severe hypoglycemia unawareness. However, limiting factors prevent islet transplantation from replacing insulin therapy, including donor shortage and lifelong immunosuppression. Islet encapsulation has the potential to reduce the immune reaction. We hypothesize that conformal islet coating with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPON) and tannic acid (TA) PVPON/TA will enhance the engraftment efficacy of human islet xenografts, as well as murine islet allografts.