Publications

3-D Life Hydrogel was used to co-culture pancreatic islets with adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) to determine the effect of AT-MSCs on islet insulin secretion. Hydrogel cultures were examined in vitro to determine insulin secretion as well as transplanted in diabetic mice to determine the effect on blood glucose levels. The implanted hydrogel prevented passage of immune cells to the allograft, as shown after recovery of the implant and subsequent processing for histopathological examinations. Islets and cells were recovered from explanted hydrogels by dextranase treatment and subjected to RT-PCR analyses.