Minimal Invasive Implantation of Sodium Cellulose Sulphate (SCS)-microencapsulated Porcine Islet Cells in Dogs: An Experimental Pilot Study

Xenotransplantation of microencapsulated porcine islet cells (PIC) could represent a possible alternative to exogenous insulin therapy in human and veterinary medicine. In this study we evaluated the surgical feasibility of a minimal invasive implantation technique at different implantation sites in dogs. Secondarily, survival of porcine islet cells and the host tissue response to microencapsulated PIC was assessed. PIC were encapsulated in sodium cellulose sulphate (SCS) microcapsules and implanted into the subcutaneous tissue, the gastric submucosa and the omentum of five healthy beagle dogs. Implantation into the gastric submucosa and the omentum was performed using a minimally invasive surgical method. The presence of microcapsules, survival of insulin-positive cells as well as a host tissue response to the implanted microcapsules could be confirmed 90 days post-implantation. Based on our results, laparoscopic assisted implantation of SCS microencapsulated PIC is feasible in dogs and does not cause any harmful side effects to the recipient. However, further strategies must be investigated to reduce the host tissue response to SCS-microencapsulated PIC to improve PIC survival.