Encapsulation Technology

LCT’s encapsulation technology is based on a patented process which involved wrapping healthy, living porcine cells in an alginate capsule, allowing them to be safely implanted into patients without the need for immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection. These cells act to replace or repair damaged tissue in patients.

LCT’s Biocapsule

The micro-encapsulation process is a crucial component of LCT’s novel cell therapy approach for treating disease. The living cells are covered in a seaweed-derived coating (alginate) to form tiny round capsules and then implanted into the patient via a laparascopic procedure that has the potential to be carried out under local anaesthetic. The capsules eliminate the need for toxic immunosuppressant drugs after implantation of the cells into the human body.

LCT has characterised and purified the alginate and transformed encapsulation into a highly specialised process, enabling unprecedented control of the biocapsule function and the rate of degradation. The encapsulation process is scaled for manufacture within LCT’s cell manufacturing facilities (GMP accredited for the diabetes product).

The Encapsulation Process

• Live cells examined to ensure safety and function
• Live cells passed through a seaweed derived hydrogel to cover the cells (alginate micro- encapsulation)
• The resulting capsule, approximately the size of a pinhead, provides protection from the patient’s immune system
• Nutrients can pass into the cells, while insulin and other therapeutic factors can pass from the capsules into the body
• Capsules remain at the site of delivery, breaking down naturally over time.

Peer-Reviewed Technology

A scientific paper reviewing LCT’s biocapsule technology is published in the international journal, BioMaterials. This signifies academic acceptance of the rigorous development of testing methodologies for characterisation and refinement of the process.

Unique Benefits

The benefits of LCT’s alginate encapsulation technology include:

• Versatility and stability in a variety of locations for a variety of indications
• Demonstrated efficacy in animal models of diabetes, Huntington’s disease, stroke and haemophilia
• Extremely reliable quality control.

Other Applications

LCT’s biocapsule can be used for stem cells, cell lines or primary cells. It is suitable for applications that require physical and kinetic flexibility in delivery, since the basic properties of the biocapsule can be maintained while tailoring the system to the desired application, including membrane characteristics like flux, wall strength, dose and biocompatibility.