Transport Phenomena and Kinetics in an Extravascular Bioartificial Pancreas

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1996

Publication Title

AIChE Journal

Abstract

A bioartificial pancreas, consisting of immobilized islets encapsulated within hollow fibers, is investigated as an alternative treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes. A mathematical model is developed to determine whether this configuration of the bioartificial pancreas can yield an insulin response to a glucose challenge with the appropriate dynamics in diabetic humans. The model consists of the 2-D mass-conservation equations for glucose and insulin within the hollow fiber and capillaries. The equations contain terms for insulin-production kinetics by porcine islets and glucose-consumption kinetics. The boundary conditions account for transport resistances of the fiber membrane, the tissue surrounding the implant, and a thin film within the capillaries. The equations are coupled to a pharmacokinetic model of the circulatory system. The calculations show that an optimized design with this configuration will be feasible for human use and requires a total volume of 4.6 mL to reach the target insulin concentration in the bloodstream following a glucose challenge. The parameters and processes controlling the system performance are discussed.

Original Citation

Buladi, B. M., Chang, C. C., Belovich, J. M. & Gatica, J. E. (1996), Transport phenomena and kinetics in an extravascular bioartificial pancreas. AIChE J., 42, 9, 2668–2682. doi: 10.1002/aic.690420928

Volume

42

Issue

9

DOI

10.1002/aic.690420928

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