LONDON,, June 29, 2025 / Prnewswire / – A team of international scientists has jumped forward in research on diabetes in functional human islands in 3D success by using a new biose. Presented today at the ESOT 2025 Congress, the new technology could open the way for more efficient and less invasive treatment for people living with type 1 diabetes.
The breakthrough involved printing human islets – clusters of insulin producing cells in the pancreas – using personalized biose made from alginate and decellular human pancreatic tissue. This approach produced sustainable and high density islet structures that have remained alive and functional up to three weeks, maintaining strong glucose insulin responses and showing real potential for future clinical use.
Traditional islet transplants are generally infused in the liver, a process that can lead to a significant loss of cells and limited long -term success. On the other hand, the 3D printed islets were designed to be established just under the skin, a simple procedure requiring local anesthesia and a small incision. This mini-invasive approach could offer a safer and more comfortable option for patients.
“Our objective was to recreate the natural environment of the pancreas so that the transplanted cells survive and work better,” explained the main author Dr. Quentin Perrier. “We used a special biose that imitates the pancreas support structure, giving the islands the oxygen and the nutrients they need to prosper.”
Bioprinted islets remained alive and healthy, with more than 90% cell survival. They responded better to glucose than standard islet preparations, releasing more insulin when necessary. On day 21, islets showed a stronger ability to feel and react to blood sugar – an important sign that they could work well after being established. The constructions have maintained their structure without agglomeration or decompose, overcoming a common obstacle in previous approaches.
In addition, 3D printed structures included a porous architecture that improved the flow of oxygen and nutrients to integrated islets. This conception has helped maintain cell health and promote vascularization, which are both essential for long -term survival and function after transplantation.
“This is one of the first studies to use real human islets instead of animal cells in biopritation, and the results are incredibly promising,” noted Dr. Perrier. “We get closer to the creation of a standard treatment for diabetes which could one day eliminate the need for insulin injections.”
Source of the European Company for the Transplantation of Organs (ESOT) Congress 2025
