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  • Interpenetrating polymer networks of alginate and polyethylene glycol for encapsulation of islets of Langerhans.

Interpenetrating polymer networks of alginate and polyethylene glycol for encapsulation of islets of Langerhans.

Journal of microencapsulation (2000-11-04)
N P Desai, A Sojomihardjo, Z Yao, N Ron, P Soon-Shiong
ABSTRACT

A mixture of alginate and polyethylene glycol acrylate was investigated as a system for the encapsulation of islets of Langerhans. This system showed dual crosslinkability: the alginate was ionically crosslinked by multivalent cations, and the PEG was covalently crosslinked by photoactivated free radical polymerization. The major advantage of the dually crosslinkable system was the chemical stability of the resultant gels due to the presence of covalent bonds that maintain the integrity of the gel as opposed to reversible ionic linkages that were the only mode of crosslinkage in previous generations of alginate-based encapsulation systems. The physical aspects of gelation of such alginate/PEG compositions were investigated. Diffusion of dextrans of known molecular weights through these gels was studied in order to shed light on the hydrogel porosity and permeability. In vitro viability and function tests demonstrated that these gels were biocompatible. Islets encapsulated in these systems were healthy and retained both viability and insulin secretory function.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 20,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 3,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 6,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 10,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), average Mn 3400
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 2,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 6,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 3,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 10,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 2,000