This technology is available from Temarex Corporation.

IMMUNOISOLATION & DIABETES - TYPE I

Title:Biological Devices of Semipermeable Amphiphilic Membranes

Inventor(s): J. P. Kennedy, S. Shamlou, R. P. Levy

Disclosure No. 279 U.S. Patent not yet issued

An implantable biological device, which is both biocompatible and hemocompatible, including a semipermeable membrane capable of encapsulating biological cells, such as pancreatic islets, and capable of immunoisolating the biological cells upon introduction into the body.

The semipermeable membrane includes an amphiphilic copolymer network having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments. This amphiphilic copolymer is not a new material as Dr.Kennedy has developed a series of polymers and networks covered by U.S. Patents 5,073,381, 4,942,204 and 4,888,389.

The unique membrane employed allows the encased cells to impact the physiological environment in which the biological device is implanted, by selectively regulating the passage of biological material in and out of the device.

This device is ideally suitable for the treatment of Type I diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) by providing to a diabetic an implantable biological device having encased therein pancreatic islets that are immunoisolated.In vivo tests with animals are underway.

key words:

implantable biological device

semipermeable membrane

pancreatic islets

immunoisolation

diabetes

insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)