Treating Diabetes using “Living Drug Factories.”
Diabetes is a significant challenge that the world is facing. As of 2019, 463 million adults have diabetes, and scientists predict the growth of the problem to reach a staggering number of 700 million by 2045. This problem has arisen due to the harmful lifestyle, lazy work ethics, and an unhealthy diet. So, let us begin with an important question: What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a group of diseases that result in high blood sugar levels. There are two types of Diabetes Mellitus, namely, type 1 and type 2. In type 1 diabetes(T1D), the beta cells of the pancreas are unable to produce insulin, and thus, their blood sugar increases whenever they digest their food. The High blood sugar level can result in complications like Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), which can lead to death. To prevent such complications, type 1 patients have to be on certain medications and take insulin shots at regular intervals. On a global scale, more than 1.1 million children and adolescents are dealing with Diabetes Type 1.
In an attempt to address this problem, Daniel Anderson, an associate professor of chemical engineering, a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, came up with the idea of transplanting islet cells (beta cells) of the pancreas into the patient but there was a small problem. The problem was that the immune system of the patient identified the transplanted cells as foreign bodies. The immune system attacked these cells, which resulted in the formation of scar tissue. The deposition of scar tissue around the device suffocated the cells and thus, preventing the cells from surviving for extensive durations of time.
The major problem with the idea provides reasons as to why this method is not standard because of the high price and vulnerability of the patient to infections(due to the weakened immune system). To tackle the problem, Mr. Anderson came up with the idea of making a device that could protect the cells without the help of immunosuppressant drugs. The goal was to achieve a state similar to a factory, in the sense that the device would have a fence that would protect the inner machinery while allowing substances to transport to and fro.
His idea after vigorous research was to enclose the cells in a device that would be made up of silicon-based elastomer (polydimethylsiloxane) and a special porous membrane. The elastomer was perfect to the point that the device had the same stiffness as living tissue. The porous membrane of the device had specific vital points. The pores of the membrane were not too big for the T- cells to enter the tissue and not too small for the insulin to be incapable of leaving the tissue. By constant testing, the size range of 800 nanometers to 1 micrometer was found optimal. The last step was to prevent the immune system from identifying the entire device as a foreign body. In this step, a substance known as THPT covers the device and thus prevents the development of scar tissue. Mr. Anderson accurately states that “This device is a crucial step needed to ensure long term function.”
Every drug and medical technology has to pass through a series of steps to become accepted. Hence, researchers tested this technology in diabetic mice, which provided favorable results. This technology allowed the cells to last for longer times up to 10 weeks. This technology was limited to islet cells; it was also tested with human embryonic kidney cells to produce erythropoietin (EPO). The results of the experiment increased the lifetime to 19 weeks. As stated by Dr. Anderson, the application of the technology is endless, specifically in areas where the patients have to take a specific protein or drug at regular intervals.
Sources
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://www.idf.org/aboutdiabetes/what-is-diabetes/facts-figures.html
‘Living drug factories’ might treat Diabetes and other diseases. (2020, March 30). Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200330152124.htm
The Coating on Capsules Next Step in Creating Insulin-Producing Factories. (2020, April 06). Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://www.jdrf.org/blog/2020/04/06/coating-on-capsules-next-step-in-creating-insulin-producing-factories/
