Researchers at Penn State have made a groundbreaking discovery in the treatment of diabetes, developing a novel approach to cell therapy that utilizes 'invisibility cloaks' made of a jelly-like material called hydrogel. This innovative method effectively hides therapeutic cells from the body's immune system, allowing for the reduction of blood sugar levels without the need for immunosuppressants.
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The 'invisibility cloaks' made of hydrogel are permeable, permitting therapeutic molecules like insulin to be released into the body while keeping the cells themselves hidden from the immune system. This approach has shown significant promise in diabetic mice, maintaining reduced blood sugar levels for 100 days without the need for immunosuppressants, which can have substantial side effects.
