Biotechnology Product
Proposal:
Statement of Purpose
Problem:
Type 1 diabetes is a problem located within the pancreas where the pancreas cannot produce insulin to provide cells with glucose. The body’s immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas which produce this insulin.
Previous attempted solutions:
Currently there is no permanent cure for diabetes. To counteract the effects of type 1 diabetes the patient receives insulin through injection. This process is done up to 4 times a day in order to counteract the effects. The insulin is produced in bacteria, the bacteria is injected with DNA ordering the cell to produce insulin. The insulin can then be collected from the bacteria and administered to the patient. The insulin had no risk of rejection by the body and the immune system will not attack it.
Current limitations/present need:
Currently people have tried to add new beta cells to the pancreas by putting in stem cells into the pancreas. One of the problems with this is that the body’s immune system will again attack these new beta cells rendering them useless within a year. Possible solutions have been to create a shield around the cells that has holes in it. These holes are small enough to let blood cells and insulin pass through but not T cells of the immune system.
Proposed Solution/product:
Our proposed solution is to create new beta cells in the patient. Or even create a new pancreas from the patient's own cells so that it has no risk of rejection. The Beta cells could be placed into the patient's pancreas where there are no more beta cells. This has not been tested before but if it was created from the patient's own stem cells there should be no rejection or autoimmune reaction against it.
Problem:
Type 1 diabetes is a problem located within the pancreas where the pancreas cannot produce insulin to provide cells with glucose. The body’s immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas which produce this insulin.
Previous attempted solutions:
Currently there is no permanent cure for diabetes. To counteract the effects of type 1 diabetes the patient receives insulin through injection. This process is done up to 4 times a day in order to counteract the effects. The insulin is produced in bacteria, the bacteria is injected with DNA ordering the cell to produce insulin. The insulin can then be collected from the bacteria and administered to the patient. The insulin had no risk of rejection by the body and the immune system will not attack it.
Current limitations/present need:
Currently people have tried to add new beta cells to the pancreas by putting in stem cells into the pancreas. One of the problems with this is that the body’s immune system will again attack these new beta cells rendering them useless within a year. Possible solutions have been to create a shield around the cells that has holes in it. These holes are small enough to let blood cells and insulin pass through but not T cells of the immune system.
Proposed Solution/product:
Our proposed solution is to create new beta cells in the patient. Or even create a new pancreas from the patient's own cells so that it has no risk of rejection. The Beta cells could be placed into the patient's pancreas where there are no more beta cells. This has not been tested before but if it was created from the patient's own stem cells there should be no rejection or autoimmune reaction against it.