Macroencapsulation\nDevice with Anti-inflammatory Membrane\nModification Enhances Long-Term Viability and Function of Transplanted\nβ Cells

Treating\ntype 1 diabetes (T1D) through β-cell macroencapsulation\nis a promising long-term solution, but it faces challenges such as\nimmune-mediated fibrosis on the capsule surface, which impairs cell\nfunctionality and compromises longevity and effectiveness. This study\npresents an approach for including an anti-inflammatory molecule on\nthe macroencapsulation device (MED) using initiated chemical vapor\ndeposition for the surface modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene)\n(PTFE) membranes. The surface-modified MEDs significantly reduced\nfibrosis, improved β-cell viability and functionality, and promoted\nM2 macrophage polarization, which is associated with anti-inflammatory\neffects. This MED displayed improved glycemic control in a streptozotocin-induced\ndiabetic mouse model for 45 days. The findings underscore the potential\nof surface-modified MEDs for improving T1D management by mitigating\ninflammation and enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of β-cell\nencapsulation.