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Encapsulating Insulin
13 February 2016

Encapsulating Insulin

Type 1 diabetes is a life-long disease that occurs when beta cells within the pancreas can no longer produce enough insulin. This causes sugar (glucose) to build up in the blood stream rather than being used by cells for energy. Currently, the only treatment for sufferers is monitoring their blood sugar and injecting insulin daily, which has its challenges. With the aim of restoring insulin production, healthy beta cells made from stem cells were transplanted into a pancreas of a mouse, but its immune system quickly destroyed these new cells. Now researchers have developed capsules made from algae derivatives to shield the beta cells from the immune system (pictured). Cells protected by one derivative called TMTD managed to successfully produce insulin once transplanted, helping to control sugar levels in mice for nearly six months. This groundbreaking research could potentially translate into a life-changing therapy for people with type 1 diabetes.

Written by Katie Panteli

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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