Many scientists think the same way you do, and it is being studied and attempted at many places worldwide. Currently, most people studying this are attempting to encapsulate islet cells from pigs then transplant them into pacnreatectomized non-human primates (baboons). I am not directly invovled in this reasearch but I think the challenge relates to finding the correct encapsulation material. Because the researchers in the United States have to answer to the FDA it will probably be a while before this can be used in humans, but it is what many scientists are trying to do.
We are also trying to transplant pig islet cells directly into humans with the use of immunosuppressive agents. Most of which are still in research development but don't seem to have the same side effects as current immunosppressive medications (namely islet toxicity and kindey damage).
We actually know from people who have had auto islet transplants beccause of chronic pancreatitis that the islet cells CAN and DO live in the liver for quite a long period of time without failure. It seems to be the immunosuppressive medications that cause harm to the islet cells, not the liver enviornment. Auto islet transplant patients are not on immunosuppression because they have gotten their own cells transplanted back into them. Their pre and post transplant metabolic tests are equivelent. Demonstrating that the liver enviornment is probably not damaging to the islet cells.
Slashdot Mirror
Many scientists think the same way you do, and it is being studied and attempted at many places worldwide. Currently, most people studying this are attempting to encapsulate islet cells from pigs then transplant them into pacnreatectomized non-human primates (baboons). I am not directly invovled in this reasearch but I think the challenge relates to finding the correct encapsulation material. Because the researchers in the United States have to answer to the FDA it will probably be a while before this can be used in humans, but it is what many scientists are trying to do. We are also trying to transplant pig islet cells directly into humans with the use of immunosuppressive agents. Most of which are still in research development but don't seem to have the same side effects as current immunosppressive medications (namely islet toxicity and kindey damage).
The technology involved in isloating islet cells from a whole pancreas is quite extensive. If you want technology....this is cutting edge!
We actually know from people who have had auto islet transplants beccause of chronic pancreatitis that the islet cells CAN and DO live in the liver for quite a long period of time without failure. It seems to be the immunosuppressive medications that cause harm to the islet cells, not the liver enviornment. Auto islet transplant patients are not on immunosuppression because they have gotten their own cells transplanted back into them. Their pre and post transplant metabolic tests are equivelent. Demonstrating that the liver enviornment is probably not damaging to the islet cells.