Culture maintenance of isolated adult porcine pancreatic islets in three-dimensional gel matrices: morphologic and functional results.

Adult porcine pancreatic islets are attractive for morphological and functional investigations but are difficult to obtain and use. In particular, the islet isolation and purification process is hampered by the lack of an outer capsule membrane, with predisposition to fragmentation. Attempts to culture maintain pig islets and preserve viability and functional competence have also been difficult. We found that placement of isolated porcine islets in biocompatible three-dimensional hydrogel matrices, made of calcium alginate and poly-L-ornithine, would improve morphology, as well as secretory responses to rapid glucose concentration changes.