Liposomes for Protection of Insulin Producing β Cells From Anoxia

Islet cell transplantation is becoming a promising treatment option for patients with type 1 diabetes. However, stresses imposed during periods of ischemia, including isolation, culture, and after transplantation, reduce islet survival. The isolation process destroys the dense vascular network within the islet requiring diffusion to transport nutrients and oxygen to the cells within the islet. The period of low oxygen availability, known as hypoxia, during isolation limits the cell’s ability to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy component within the cell, leading to loss of cell functions and eventually cell death. In this work we examine the utility of different liposome formulations for protecting insulin producing β cells from anoxia. We investigate the affects of conventional liposomes as well as ATP containing liposomes (ATP-L) on β cells exposed to anoxic conditions.