Ultrastructural examination of pancreatic islet containing alginate/polyaminoacidic coherent microcapsules.

We ultrastructurally examined pancreatic islet containing alginate/poly-L-ornithine (AG/PLO) coherent microcapsules (CM) which we had previously developed in our laboratory. Specific issues, such as extent of CM coherency as well as morphologic integrity, and viability of the encapsulated islet subcellular organelles were addressed. We preliminarily demonstrated, both at scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy analysis, that CM seem to provide for structurally intact and functional, artificial microbarriers, enveloping each individual islet. These findings, additional to CM immunobarrier competence and biocompatibility, previously shown by our studies, might foster progress of CM into islet graft immunoisolation experimental and ultimately clinical trials.