Implantable Islet Cells May End Insulin Shots

MIT researchers develop device that encapsulates insulin-producing cells to control type 1 diabetes without need for immune suppression.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:02am

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MIT researchers have developed an implantable device that contains insulin-producing islet cells, which could offer a way to achieve long-term control of type 1 diabetes without the need for immune suppression. The device encapsulates the cells, protecting them from immune rejection, and it also carries an on-board oxygen generator to keep the cells healthy. In studies in rats and mice, the researchers showed the device could function for at least 90 days, with the encapsulated cells producing enough insulin to keep the animals' blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

Why it matters

Current islet cell therapy for diabetes requires immune suppression, which can be debilitating for some patients. This new device aims to provide the benefits of cell therapy without the need for immune suppression, potentially transforming the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

The details

The device encapsulates pancreatic islet cells, protecting them from immune rejection. It also carries an on-board oxygen generator that splits water vapor in the body into hydrogen and oxygen, providing the cells with the oxygen they need to survive and function. The researchers have optimized the device's circuitry to increase the power delivered to the oxygen generator, allowing the encapsulated cells to produce more insulin over time.

  • In a 2023 study, the researchers reported an islet-encapsulation device that could produce insulin for up to a month after being implanted in mice.
  • In the new study, the researchers showed the improved device could function for at least 90 days after being implanted under the skin of rats and mice.

The players

Daniel Anderson

A professor in MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering and a member of MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Institute for Medical Engineering and Science.

Siddharth Krishnan

A former MIT research scientist who is now an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University.

Matthew Bochenek

A former MIT postdoc.

Robert Langer

The David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT.

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What they’re saying

“Islet cell therapy can be a transformative treatment for patients. However, current methods also require immune suppression, which for some people can be really debilitating. Our goal is to find a way to give patients the benefit of cell therapy without the need for immune suppression.”

— Daniel Anderson, Professor

“A month is a good timeframe in that it shows basic proof-of-concept. But from a translational standpoint, it's important to show that you can go quite a bit longer than that.”

— Siddharth Krishnan, Assistant Professor

“We're hoping that in the future, if we can give the cells a little bit longer to fully mature, that they'll secrete even more insulin to better regulate diabetes in the animals.”

— Matthew Bochenek, Former Postdoc

What’s next

The researchers now plan to study whether they can get the devices to last for even longer in the body - up to two years, or longer.

The takeaway

This new implantable device offers a promising approach to treating type 1 diabetes without the need for immune suppression, which could significantly improve the quality of life for many patients.