Making a type of skin implant that can reverse diabetes in mice

The first insulin-secreting skin implant was able to reverse diabetes in mice.

According to Tekna Technology News Service, engineers at the University of Massachusetts have developed a new type of implantable device called SHEATH, which can maintain blood sugar levels in type 1 diabetic patients without the need for regular insulin injections. This innovation was praised for making diabetes treatment more accessible.

Researchers from the University of Alberta and Cornell in the next stages of this research have created a type of insulin-secreting skin implant that can reverse diabetes. This device worked successfully in the experiments conducted on mice and showed that anti-rejection drugs will not be needed during use.

In this method, a detachable polymer thread was used, which contains Langerhans islet cells and is covered with a very thin hydrogel coating. This thread can be placed in the patient's stomach without causing any reaction.

According to the experiments conducted, mice undergoing this transplant operation were able to achieve cell survival and non-return of diabetes without the need for anti-rejection drugs. Anti-rejection drugs are usually used to suppress the immune system. Their use was also done with the aim of not rejecting the insulin-secreting skin implant transplant. The new transplant system can be used in the future in transplants where hormone-producing cells are involved, such as anemia and chronic kidney diseases.