A new encapsulation technique, the formation of a polyelectrolyte complex membrane
from sodium cellulose sulphate and a polycationic solution (polydimethyldiallylammoniumchloride)
can be used for culturing pancreatic islets. After 5 weeks of culture, such encapsulated
islets were morphologically well preserved, and parameters of cell viability and functionality
such as DNA content and DNA synthesis, insulin content and stimulated insulin release
were not different between the encapsulated and non-encapsulated control islets. A
lower insulin secretion into the medium of the encapsulated islets during the first
3 weeks of culture can probably be explained by the capsule diameter (4–5 mm) and
should be improved using microcapsules with a diameter of less than 1 mm.
Pancreatic islets - Culture - Encapsulation - Cellulose sulphate - Islet viability
