Engineering of ideal transplant sites for cell transplantation through the use of bioactive materials is a major focus of our laboratory, specifically the combination of biomaterials and active agents to generate a favorable site for islet or beta cell transplantation. Engineered biomaterial scaffolds, like the one shown above, can create optimal sites for housing islets. With a focus on enhancing oxygenation and vascularization, as well as local immunomodulation, to the engraftment site of islets, we have developed several platform technologies:
Efforts in this area are currently being supported by the JDRF and NIH
