New Stent Design Shows Promise for Delivering Insulin-Producing Cells in Type 1 Diabetes

Scientists have long explored transplanting insulin-producing islet cells as a way to restore the body's natural ability to regulate blood sugar in Type 1 diabetes. However, delivering these delicate cells safely into the body remains a major challenge. Researchers at the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology have now described a new device—the IsletStent—that could address this problem.

The IsletStent is a biologic stent-graft, similar in concept to devices used in vascular surgery, but designed specifically to house pancreatic islet cells. The stent is made with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a semipermeable material, which creates a tiny chamber that allows nutrients and glucose to reach the cells while protecting them from the immune system. The device is intended for delivery through blood vessels to the liver.

Researchers tested prototypes of the IsletStent in a controlled laboratory setting using a benchtop perfusion system—essentially a machine that simulates the conditions inside a blood vessel. They seeded the stent with pancreatic islet cells from both mice and humans and measured how well the cells responded to changing glucose levels.

When mouse islet-seeded devices were exposed to high glucose levels (28 mM), insulin secretion increased significantly compared to low glucose (2.8 mM). Human islet-seeded devices showed a similar pattern: insulin concentrations rose from approximately 229 to 300 microunits per milliliter when glucose increased. These results suggest that the islets retained their ability to sense glucose and respond appropriately while housed within the stent.

This study represents an important early step in developing a potential new approach to Type 1 diabetes. The laboratory evidence shows that pancreatic islet cells can remain functional inside the proposed stent device and continue to perform their core job: detecting blood glucose and releasing insulin in response.

However, this research is in the benchtop phase—testing the device in a laboratory with simulated conditions, not in living animals or people. Researchers will need to conduct additional studies to determine whether the stent functions as intended in the body, whether it protects islets from immune attack over time, and whether it can be safely delivered and maintained in humans. The path from promising laboratory results to a clinical treatment is lengthy and requires extensive validation.

Source: Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.