Abstract: An implantable medical device, a method of manufacturing, and a method of use are described. The implantable medical device includes an absorption bag connected by a cannula to a discharge bag. The implantable medical device also includes a reservoir external to the discharge bag and attached to a surface of the discharge bag. At least a portion of the absorption bag and at least a portion of a bottom surface of the reservoir are permeable to a predefined class of small molecules, such as molecular oxygen. The reservoir can retain live cells that rely on the small molecules for survival and growth. Based on concentration of the small molecules, the small molecules permeate into the absorption bag and are transported to the discharge bag for permeation into the reservoir, thereby providing a supply of the small molecules to the live cells.

Abstract: p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) is a biomarker associated with islet cell health. If PUMA is low, islet cells are typically healthy. If PUMA is high, islet cells are typically unhealthy or dying. PUMA may be measured by either measuring its nucleic or amino acid. PUMA mRNA may be induced by TNF-? stimulation in a time- and dose-dependent manner and ? cell apoptosis is induced through a mitochondrial pathway. TNF-? significantly inhibited glucose-induced preproinsulin precursor mRNA synthesis. Such ? cell stress signaling in human islets indicates overall state of islet health and, ultimately, the risk of onset and/or degree of severity of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) is a biomarker associated with islet cell health. If PUMA is low, islet cells are typically healthy. If PUMA is high, islet cells are typically unhealthy or dying. PUMA may be measured by either measuring its nucleic or amino acid. PUMA mRNA may be induced by TNF-? stimulation in a time- and dose-dependent manner and ? cell apoptosis is induced through a mitochondrial pathway. TNF-? significantly inhibited glucose-induced preproinsulin precursor mRNA synthesis. Such ? cell stress signaling in human islets indicates overall state of islet health and, ultimately, the risk of onset and/or degree of severity of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, a method of manufacturing, and a method of use are described. The implantable medical device includes an absorption bag connected by a cannula to a discharge bag. The implantable medical device also includes a reservoir external to the discharge bag and attached to a surface of the discharge bag. At least a portion of the absorption bag and at least a portion of a bottom surface of the reservoir are permeable to a predefined class of small molecules, such as molecular oxygen. The reservoir can retain live cells that rely on the small molecules for survival and growth. Based on concentration of the small molecules, the small molecules permeate into the absorption bag and are transported to the discharge bag for permeation into the reservoir, thereby providing a supply of the small molecules to the live cells.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for saccharide-peptide based hydrogels, the functionalization of the saccharide-peptide based hydrogels with one or more biological agents, and the encapsulation of one or more biological materials and/or pharmaceutical agents in the hydrogels. The disclosure further provides for the use of the saccharide-peptide based hydrogels in treating a disease or disorder in a subject.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for saccharide-peptide based hydrogels, the functionalization of the saccharide-peptide based hydrogels with one or more biological agents, and the encapsulation of one or more biological materials and/or pharmaceutical agents in the hydrogels. The disclosure further provides for the use of the saccharide-peptide based hydrogels in treating a disease or disorder in a subject.

Abstract: p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) is a biomarker associated with islet cell health. If PUMA is low, islet cells are typically healthy. If PUMA is high, islet cells are typically unhealthy or dying. PUMA may be measured by either measuring its nucleic or amino acid. PUMA mRNA may be induced by TNF-? stimulation in a time- and dose-dependent manner and ? cell apoptosis is induced through a mitochondrial pathway. TNF-? significantly inhibited glucose-induced preproinsulin precursor mRNA synthesis. Such ? cell stress signaling in human islets indicates overall state of islet health and, ultimately, the risk of onset and/or degree of severity of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: A method, a solution and a chamber for the preparation and storage of pancreatic islets. The method includes contacting a pancreas with a warm collagenase solution, digesting the pancreas in the warm collagenase solution to form warm digest, adding cold preservative solution to the warm digest, agitating the warm digest/cold preservative solution at a temperature between about 0.degree. and 15.degree. C., to thereby further digest the partially digested pancreas included in the warm digest, to form cold digest and collecting liquid from the cold digest to form isolated islets. The cold preservative solution and a pancreatic islet preservative solution of the present invention include D-mannitol, K-lactobionate and a buffer.

Abstract: A method, a solution and a chamber for the preparation and storage of pancreatic islets. The method includes contacting a pancreas with a warm collagenase solution, digesting the pancreas in the warm collagenase solution to form warm digest, adding cold preservative solution to the warm digest, agitating the warm digest/cold preservative solution at a temperature between about 0.degree. and 15.degree. C., to thereby further digest the partially digested pancreas included in the warm digest, to form cold digest and collecting liquid from the cold digest to form isolated islets. The cold preservative solution and a pancreatic islet preservative solution of the present invention include D-mannitol, K-lactobionate and a buffer.