Stimulation, culture and preservation of pancreatic cells
US6479283B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N2500/50
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for stimulating pancreatic cells to synthesize and/or excrete insulin comprises contacting insulin-producing cells, in particular their aqueous suspension, with a water-soluble cellulose derivative, in particular selected from alkylated, hydroxyalkylated, and alkylated-hydroxyalkylated cellulose or a mixture thereof. A medium for the culture of pancreatic &bgr;-cells contains an effective cell-stimulating amount of a cellulose derivative. It can be used to stimulate pancreatic &bgr;-cells to produce and/or excrete insulin. An apparatus for such stimulation comprises a container holding a solution of a cellulose derivative in an aqueous culture medium. Stimulation of pancreatic &bgr;-cells by a cellulose derivative is useful in the management of diabetes. Further preservative or therapeutic methods using the aqueous cellulose derivatives are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.