Comparison of bioartificial and artificial pancreatic transplantation as promising therapies for type I Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic life-threatening condition whose incidence in the UK has doubled every 20 years since 1945 (Diabetes UK, 2010). Whilst intensive insulin therapy has been shown to reduce the incidence of long-term vascular complications in T1DM patients, it has also been shown to increase the risk of severe hypoglycaemia by 3-fold. Clinical islet transplantation has progressed considerably over the past decade, yet issues regarding the toxic effects of immunosuppression drugs and the paucity of pancreatic donor supplies remain. To provide an effective long-term therapy for heightened glycaemic control, many studies are investigating the potential of bioartificial islet encapsulation strategies and artificial bihormonal closed-loop systems. Following consideration of the basis of pancreatic transplantation, this article takes an indepth look at both the benefits and limitations of bioartificial and artificial therapies and compares their potential in terms of providing an effective long-term solution to patients suffering with T1DM.