Stem Cell Related Patent Number US7101546

In situ maturation of cultured pancreatic stem cells having a specified, intermediate stage of development

Tsang, Wen-Ghih; Sherman Oaks, CA, United States of America
Zheng, Tianli; Culver City, CA, United States of America
Wang, Yanping; Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Described herein is a novel in situ method of providing insulin to a mammal. The invention relates to the discovery that there exists an intermediate, differentiated stage of pancreatic stem cells which can be matured in situ into a stable, expandable cell line that produces insulin in response to glucose. The method disclosed herein involves encapsulating a cell culture of propagating pancreatic cells with an alginate capsule that has been cross-linked with a divalent cation and enclosed with a polylysine membrane; the encapsulated cells are then inserted into the mammal, permitting the cells to mature into insulin secreting cells, and thereby avoiding the step of culturing the intermediate stage stem cells into later stage pancreatic cells.

Application Number: US2002000326190

Date Filed: 12/20/02

Dated Published: 09/05/06

Assignee: AmCyte, Inc., Santa Monica, CA, United States of America