Cell-based therapies provide a novel approach to treating chronic diseases. Recapitulating a damaged organ's function by secreting hormones or other factors is dependent upon successful engraftment of transplanted cells. Engraftment of the transplanted cells requires that cells survive the initial hypoxic environment following transplantation, connect with the host vasculature for exchange of nutrients and waste products and also deliver secreted factors into the circulation. Doing this requires creating an environment that promotes long term function of the transplanted cells. If the cell supply is limited, approaches to expand the transplant graft in vivo may also be important. We propose to address the hypothesis that micro-porous polymer scaffolds capable of delivering biologically active peptides can create a microenvironment to promote cell engraftment, survival and proliferation. A classic paradigm for cell-based therapy is islet transplantation for treatment of type 1 diabetes in which destruction of insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas results in hyperglycemia and its complications. Recent trials have provided proof of concept that islet transplantation can be efficacious, yet problems remain. To address these problems, we are proposing to transplant islets on microporous scaffolds capable of releasing proteins that can influence the host tissue (e.g., vascularization) or enhance the functionality of the transplanted islets. These factors will condition the microenvironment to promote islet engraftment, survival, and function. We have recently shown that microporous scaffolds can serve as a platform for islet transplantation.
The Specific Aims are as follows. (i) 1) To investigate the hypothesis that the scaffold architecture, as defined by porosity, pore size, and stability, will influence islet engraftment and function. (ii) To address the hypothesis that use of a polymer scaffold to deliver angiogenic factors will improve islet survival and function post-transplantation in a murine model of diabetes. (iii) To test the hypothesis that polymer scaffolds delivering factors that inhibit islet cell death and/or increase islet cell mass post-transplantation will enhance islet engraftment and function. (iv) To determine whether delivering a combination of growth factors that affect different processes (e.g., angiogenesis and islet cell survival and/or proliferation) is more efficacious than delivering a single factor. These studies have the potential to substantially advance cell therapies for islet transplantation.

Public Health Relevance

Transplantation of islets or, ultimately, insulin-secreting cells from other sources represents a potential cure for diabetes, which results from destruction of insulin-secreting cells by the immune system. To enhance cell replacement therapy for diabetes, we are developing scaffolds for transplantation of islets or insulin-secreting cells into peritoneal fat. These scaffolds provide a support for cell growth and can deliver proteins which will be to enhance cell survival and function following islet transplantation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EB009910-04
Application #
8461627
Study Section
Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section (BMBI)
Program Officer
Hunziker, Rosemarie
Project Start
2010-05-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$330,016
Indirect Cost
$107,364
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
160079455
City
Evanston
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60201
Kasputis, Tadas; Clough, Daniel; Noto, Fallon et al. (2018) Microporous Polymer Scaffolds for the Transplantation of Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Pancreatic Progenitors to a Clinically Translatable Site for the Treatment of Type I Diabetes. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 4:1770-1778
Dangi, Anil; Zhang, Lei; Zhang, Xiaomin et al. (2018) Murine CMV induces type 1 IFN that impairs differentiation of MDSCs critical for transplantation tolerance. Blood Adv 2:669-680
Liu, Jeffrey M H; Zhang, Xiaomin; Joe, Shelby et al. (2018) Evaluation of biomaterial scaffold delivery of IL-33 as a localized immunomodulatory agent to support cell transplantation in adipose tissue. J Immunol Regen Med 1:1-12
Skoumal, Michael; Woodward, Kyle B; Zhao, Hong et al. (2018) Localized immune tolerance from FasL-functionalized PLG scaffolds. Biomaterials 192:271-281
Park, Jonghyuck; Decker, Joseph T; Smith, Dominique R et al. (2018) Reducing inflammation through delivery of lentivirus encoding for anti-inflammatory cytokines attenuates neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. J Control Release 290:88-101
Rios, Peter D; Skoumal, Michael; Liu, Jeffrey et al. (2018) Evaluation of encapsulating and microporous nondegradable hydrogel scaffold designs on islet engraftment in rodent models of diabetes. Biotechnol Bioeng 115:2356-2364
Weaver, Jessica D; Headen, Devon M; Aquart, Jahizreal et al. (2017) Vasculogenic hydrogel enhances islet survival, engraftment, and function in leading extrahepatic sites. Sci Adv 3:e1700184
Kuo, Robert; Saito, Eiji; Miller, Stephen D et al. (2017) Peptide-Conjugated Nanoparticles Reduce Positive Co-stimulatory Expression and T Cell Activity to Induce Tolerance. Mol Ther 25:1676-1685
Dangi, Anil; Luo, Xunrong (2017) Harnessing Apoptotic Cells for Transplantation Tolerance: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Curr Transplant Rep 4:270-279
Dumont, Courtney M; Margul, Daniel J; Shea, Lonnie D (2016) Tissue Engineering Approaches to Modulate the Inflammatory Milieu following Spinal Cord Injury. Cells Tissues Organs 202:52-66

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