Biomedical Applications of Immobilized Cells

The aim of cell microencapsulation technology is to treat multiple diseases in the absence of immunosuppression. For this purpose, cells have been immobilized experimentally within carefully designed capsules that allow the long-term function of the graft. Recently, several advances have brought the whole technology much closer to a realistic proposal for clinical application. This chapter reviews the potential impact of this alternative approach for the long-term delivery of therapeutic products and discusses the main limitations, advantages, and challenges in order to assure the same quality standards as those associated with approved drug delivery systems.