Miller School of Medicine >> UM Innovation >> Coulter Center >> Technologies
 
ID# CC002
Novel Device for Cell Therapy
Dr. Camillo Ricordi
 
Problem
Most immunosuppressive agents are toxic to the insulin-producing β-cells. The serious toxic side effects and the susceptibility for opportunistic infections have become major problems with systemic therapies.
 
Solution
Local delivery -- when such an approach is used, all of the transplanted tissue is localized within the novel patented device.
 
Competitive Advantage
The novel approach requires much smaller doses than a traditional systemic immunosuppression since therapeutically active concentration levels have to be maintained only within the device (by local delivery). Therefore, the serious toxic side effects and the susceptibility for opportunistic infections, the main problems associated with systemic therapies, should be avoidable even if long-time treatment is needed to provide protection against rejection and maintain function.
 
Applications
The present invention addresses the problem of rejection of the cellular transplant by providing localized immunosuppression/immunoregulation to avoid the requirement of a long term systemic immunosuppression of the recipient patient, and provides for the addition of the factors that favor cell engraftment and function. The local delivery of therapeutic factors/cytokines/drugs will facilitate long term survival and function of transplanted cells while minimizing the side effect of recipient immonosuppression.
 
Patent Status
US and PCT Applications Pending (US2006024276, WO2006020288).
 
Licensing Opportunity
n/a
 
About the Inventors
Camillo Ricordi, MD, is a Professor in Surgery, Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology. He is also Chief of the Division of Cellular Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Scientific Director and Chief Academic Officer of the Diabetes Research Institute and Senior Associate Dean for Research at the UM School of Medicine.  His research interests include cell based therapies for diabetes and other diseases, strategies for tolerance induction and development of methods/devices that enhance cell harvest, isolation and preservation.
 
Selected References
Pharmaceutical, Research and Manufacturers of America The Value of Investment in Health Care. Executive Summary., PhRMA: Washington DC, 2006. MacGregor, R. R.; Williams, S. J.; Tong, P. Y.; Kover, K.; Moore, W. V.; Stehno-Bittel, L. Small rat islets are superior to large islets in in vitro function and in transplantation outcomes. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab., 2006, 290, E771-E779. Pileggi, A.; Molano, R. D.; Ricordi, C.; Zahr, E.; Collins, J.; Valdes, R.; Inverardi, L. Reversal of diabetes by pancreatic islet transplantation into a subcutaneous, neovascularized device.Transplantation, 2006, 81, 1318-1324.
 
 

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