Immunomodulatory nano-in-microgel to prevent extrahepatic islet graft rejection in type 1 diabetes
Thursday, July 17, 2025
6:19 PM – 6:30 PM EDT
Introduction: The extra-hepatic engraftment and function of transplanted islets in type 1 diabetes (T1D) are challenged by allorejection and recurring autoimmunity. Immunosuppressive therapies in clinical islet transplantation are given systemically, deplete T-cell responses, and escalate secondary infections. Administration of CTLA4IgG often needs to be combined with other drugs. I aim to design a nano-in-microgel platform (N/M DDS) that mediates protracted engraft site-triggered localized delivery of nonsteroidal molecules (apremilast; Apm) and a biologic (CTLA4IgG) to target both macrophages and T cells.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this activity, participants will know
Incorporate combination drugs targeting the innate and adaptive immunity
reduce the dose of individual drugs & overcome the challenges of small implantation volume,
protract drug release to achieve operational tolerance in the localized allogeneic islet transplants
