New Gel Aims to Help Transplanted Insulin-Producing Cells Survive

Researchers in Geneva have developed an experimental gel designed to protect insulin-producing cells after transplantation, addressing a major obstacle in cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes.

News report — unverified, pending corroboration

Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

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Key takeaways

A gel called Amniogel, made from human amniotic membrane, is being tested to help transplanted insulin-producing cells survive in the body.
Transplanted cells currently struggle because of poor blood supply and inflammation in the liver, where they are typically placed.
The gel recreates a more natural environment for the cells and includes vessel-forming cells to improve blood flow.
Cell transplantation can restore blood sugar control temporarily, but cell survival remains one of the biggest challenges in this field.

The Problem With Current Cell Transplants

Type 1 diabetes develops when the immune system destroys beta cells—the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Replacing these cells through transplantation is a promising approach that can restore the body's natural ability to make and regulate insulin. However, transplanted cells face serious hurdles once inside the body.

When insulin-producing cells are isolated from donor tissue and placed into the liver—the typical transplant site—they often struggle to survive. Poor blood supply and inflammation in the liver damage the transplanted cells, limiting how long they can function. Additionally, the cells lose the natural support system they had in the pancreas, which takes a toll on their viability.

How Amniogel Works

Researchers at a team in Geneva developed Amniogel, an experimental protective gel made from human amniotic membrane—tissue from the placenta collected after birth. The goal is to create a more natural environment for transplanted pancreatic islets (clusters of insulin-producing cells) immediately after they are isolated.

The gel's most important feature is that it includes vessel-forming cells mixed in before transplantation. These cells are designed to help establish blood flow to the transplanted tissue, addressing one of the core problems that currently threatens transplant survival.

What This Means for Type 1 Diabetes

If Amniogel proves effective, it could help solve one of the biggest barriers to cell transplantation as a type 1 diabetes therapy. By improving cell survival and function after transplantation, the approach could potentially extend how long patients benefit from restored blood sugar control.

This is still experimental research. More testing will be needed to understand how well the gel works in people and whether it can be produced reliably at scale. But the work represents progress on a critical challenge in the field.

Evidence label

Origin: diabetes.co.uk (News report). Evidence: News report — unverified, pending corroboration. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

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