The impact of allylamine-bile acid combinations on cell delivery microcapsules in diabetes.

Objective: In a recent study, we developed a new microencapsulating method for β-cell microencapsulation, but cell viability declined rapidly, post microencapsulation, due to potential polymer-polyelectrolyte chelation and non-porous microcapsules' membranes resulting in cell apoptosis. Thus, this study tested the effects of incorporating cationic polyamine at 1% w/v, on microcapsule strength and cell viability, in the absence or presence of an anionic tertiary bile acid (ATBA) with potential cell-protective effects.

Methods: 1% w/v polyamine was used without or with ATBA, to form β-cell microcapsules and physical and biological analyses was carried out 50 h post microencapsulation.

Results: Microcapsules containing 1% w/v polyamine showed weak physical properties and low cell viability and ATBA incorporation resulted in >30% reduction in cell viability and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Conclusion: Neither 1% w/v polyamine nor the presence of ATBA resulted in optimised cell viability, but rather reduced cell viability, enhanced inflammation and lowered insulin secretion.