摘要 |
<p>The invention relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xenotransplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising: (i) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting islets from a culture of the harvested pancreas using a suitable collagenase, (iii) the culture of the harvested pancreas being a) of mechanically reduced harvested pancreas, and b) a supportive mammalian albumin substantially free of non-human microbiological agents,wherein (at least some stage in the method) the islets are associated with Sertoli cells. The preparations is preferably used in one of two implantation devices, the method of preparation of which are disclosed: a vascularised subcutaneous collagen tube, a capsule formed from a biocompatible xenotransplantable material Further disclosed are methods of treating a mammalian patient predisposed to or suffering from diabetes which involves the xenotransplantation into such patient an implantation device of the invention.</p> |