Abstract: ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for use in the prevention and treatment of male infertility in prepubertal subjects undergoing chemotherapeutic and/or radiotherapeutic treatments for the treatment of neoplasms. ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are selected from the group consisting of 20:5 ?-3 eicosapentaenoic acid, 18:3 ?-3 ?-linolenic acid, 22:6 ?-3 docosahexaenoic acid, and 22:5 ?-3 docosapentaenoic acid. Preferably, ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid is 20:5 ?-3 eicosapentaenoic acid.

Abstract: A membrane including a barrier having layers of alginate with different material molar concentrations relative to another material. The layers have a uniform consistency across a thickness of the layers. The thickness is free of laminae and interfaces and forms a single layer morphology that provides permeability for selected molecules.

Abstract: A membrane including a barrier having layers of alginate with different material molar concentrations relative to another material. The layers have a uniform consistency across a thickness of the layers. The thickness is free of laminae and interfaces and forms a single layer morphology that provides permeability for selected molecules.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of microcapsules includes a volumetric pump configured to deliver a polysaccaridic suspension through a catching tube. A needle-type element is configured to receive the suspension through the catching tube, and the needle-type element has a button hole opening in a lateral wall thereof and an output hole that outputs the suspension. The button hole opening receives a pressure fluid current. A pressure regulator is coupled to the button hole opening to regulate the pressure fluid current to interrupt a suspension flow and obtain microdroplets of homogeneous size exiting the output hole. The microdroplets are received in a receiving container in a solution including divalent cations or polycationic substances to form a gel such that homogeneous microcapsules are formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of Sertoli cells (SC) microencapsulated into hydrogel-based microcapsules, for the prevention and/or treatment of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and to a process for producing microcapsules, preferably shaped as microspheres.

Abstract: A method for obtaining solutions of non-structurally modified salts of alginate, with endotoxin content less than 20 EU/g includes obtaining an alginate solution having a concentration ranging from 1.6 to 2.0% by weight by adding commercial grade alginate powder to a saline solution. The alginate solution obtained is filtered on at least one hydrophilic filter, and a filtered alginate solution is recovered. The filtered alginate solution obtained is further filtered on a charge-modified hydrophobic filter, and an alginate solution having an endotoxin content less than 20 EU/g is recovered.

Abstract: A process for the ultrapurification of alginates is provided. In particular, the process may be used for microencapsulation in human cell transplants.

Abstract: The invention relates to developments in the treatment of diabetes in mammals. Particularly it relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xenotransplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising the steps of: (I) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting pancreatic ? islet cells from the harvested pancreas wherein the islets (at least at some stage in the performance of the method) are exposed to nicotinamide. Further, the invention relates to a method of encapsulation of a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation, and transplantation of such a preparation, or a capsule containing such a preparation, into an appropriate recipient mammal.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of Sertoli cells (SC) microencapsulated into hydrogel-based microcapsules, for the prevention and/or treatment of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and to a process for producing microcapsules, preferably shaped as microspheres.

Abstract: A process for the ultrapurification of alginates is provided. In particular, the process may be used for microencapsulation in human cell transplants.

Abstract: The invention relates to developments in the treatment of diabetes in mammals. Particularly it relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xenotransplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising the steps of: (I) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting pancreatic ? islet cells from the harvested pancreas wherein the islets (at least at some stage in the performance of the method) are exposed to nicotinamide. Further, the invention relates to a method of encapsulation of a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation, and transplantation of such a preparation, or a capsule containing such a preparation, into an appropriate recipient mammal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xeno-transplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising: (i) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting islets from a culture of the harvested pancreas using a suitable collagenase, (iii) the culture of the harvested pancreas being a) of mechanically reduced harvested pancreas, and b) a supportive mammalian albumin substantially free of non-human microbiological agents, wherein (at least some stage in the method) the islets are associated with Sertoli cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to developments in the treatment of diabetes in mammals. Particularly it relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xenotransplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising the steps of: (I) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting pancreatic ? islet cells from the harvested pancreas wherein the islets (at least at some stage in the performance of the method) are exposed to nicotinamide. Further, the invention relates to a method of encapsulation of a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation, and transplantation of such a preparation, or a capsule containing such a preparation, into an appropriate recipient mammal.

Abstract: The invention relates to developments in the treatment of diabetes in mammals. Particularly it relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xenotransplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising the steps of: (I) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting pancreatic ? islet cells from the harvested pancreas wherein the islets (at least at some stage in the performance of the method) are exposed to nicotinamide. Further, the invention relates to a method of encapsulation of a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation, and transplantation of such a preparation, or a capsule containing such a preparation, into an appropriate recipient mammal.

Abstract: The invention relates to developments in the treatment of diabetes in mammals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a xenotransplantable porcine islet preparation capable upon xenotransplantation of producing porcine insulin in an appropriate recipient mammal, the method including or comprising: (i) harvesting the pancreas of piglets at or near full term gestation, and (ii) extracting islets from a culture of the harvested pancreas using a suitable collagenase, (iii) the culture of the harvested pancreas being a) of mechanically reduced harvested pancreas, and b) a supportive mammalian albumin substantially free of non-human microbiological agents,wherein (at least some stage in the method) the islets are associated with Sertoli cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to developments in the treatment of diabetes in mammals.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis having a low porosity outer material such as PTFE, and an inner synthetic tubular mesh. Semi-permeable microcapsules that contain hormone-producing cells, are placed between the outer material and the inner mesh. The microcapsules are preferably made of polysaccharides or amino-acid polymers.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis having a low porosity outer material such as FTFE, and an inner synthetic tubular mesh. Semi-permeable microcapsules that contain hormone-producing cells, are placed between the outer material and the inner mesh. The microcapsules are preferably made of polysaccharides or amino-acid polymers.