IN SITU DISSOLUTION OF ALGINATE COATINGS OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUE TRANSPLANTS

摘要

A method for in situ dissolution of an alginate coating from transplants containing biological tissue cores by administering to a transplant's recipient a physiologically acceptable chelating agent in an amount sufficient to dissolve the alginate coating is disclosed. The method allows in situ removal of the coating and deactivation of the transplant by rejection of its core by the host immune system without the necessity of having to perform surgery. The figure illustrates the blood glucose values observed before and after a cluster method dissolution of single alginate coating of rat pancreatic islets implanted in the peritoneal cavity of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice to treat induced diabetes.