Foreword
Camillo Ricordi

Part I - Microencapsulation of islets of langerhans

The Concepts of Immuno-Isolation and Immunoprotection
Jean-Pierre Hallé

Different Approaches for Immuno-Isolation : Intra-Vascular Devices, Macro-encapsulation, and Microencapsulation
Paul de Vos, B.J. de Haan, M.M. Faas

Technical Approaches for Cell Microencapsulation
Denis Poncelet

Structure-Function Relationships of Alginates Including Epimerase Tailored Alginates
Berit Strand, Gudmund Skjak-Braek

Microcapsule Mechanical and Functional Properties
Robert Robitaille, Jean-Pierre Hallé

Biocompatibility of Biomaterials, Whole Microcapsule and Encapsulated Islets
Paul de Vos, B.J. de Haan, M.M. Faas

High Performance Physicochemical Methods for Microcapsule True Surface and Molecular Structure Analysis
Susan Tam, Jean-Pierre Hallé, L’Hocine Yahia

Surface and Membrane Visualisation Techniques for the Characterization of Microcapsules
Igor Lacik

Factors Involved in Microencapsulated Islet Cell Survival
Julie Dusseault, Jean-Pierre Hallé

Oxygen Supply to Microencapsulated Cells
Clark K Colton

The Role of Integrins and Extra Cellular Matrix Proteins in Islet Cell Differentiation and Survival
Rennian Wang

Protection of the Host against the Risk Associated with the Transplant: a New Role for Novel Microcapsules
Julie Dusseault, Jean-Pierre Hallé

Upscaling Microencapsulation Technologies
Denis Poncelet

Regulatory Aspects of Microencapsulated Cell Therapy
Marie-Christine Miralles and coll

Part II- Microencapsulation: mechanisms of immune protection and inflamatory response

Mechanisms of Protection by Microencapsulation against Antigen Recognition, Immune Cells, Antibodies, and Complement Components (Including Differences between Xeno and Allograft)
Veronique Dugas, Claudine Beauchamp, Jean-Pierre Hallé

Mechanisms of the Host Immune Response to Alginate Microcapsules
Terje Espevik, Anne Mari Rokstad, Bård Kulseng, Berit Strand and Gudmund Skjåk-Bræk

Protection from Cytokines by Microencapsulation
Paul de Vos, B.J. de Haan, M.M. Faas

Protection from Free Radicals by Microencapsulation
Mahendra Kavdia

Nanoencapsulation Technologies and Functionalization of Outer Layers
Cherie Stabler and coll.

Biohybrid Devices and Local Immunomodulation as Opposed to Systemic Immunosuppression
Camillo Ricordi and coll.

Part III - Implantation sites for micro-encapsulated islets

Alternative Implantation Sites for Microencapsulated Islets: General Perspective, Rationale and Intraportal Implantations
Francois Leblond, Jean-Pierre Hallé

The Omental Pouch as an Implantation Site for Islets
Gart Warnock

Development of a Bioartificial Hypervascularized Removable Implantation Site for Encapsulated Cells
Paul de Vos, B.J. de Haan, M.M. Faas

Part IV - Human islet allotransplantation from organ donors

Islet Cell Products: Processing, Quality Controls and Implications for Bioartificial Applications
Camillo Ricordi and coll.

Clinical Trials of (non-encapsulated) Islet Transplantation
James Shapiro and collaborators

Networking Applied to Clinical Islet Transplantation: Rationale and Experience from the GRAGIL Network
Anne Wojtusciszyn

Part V - Alternative sources of insulin producing cells

Neonatal Pig Islet Transplantation
Gregory Korbutt

Microencapsulated Islet Xenotransplantation in the Pig to Primate Model
Denis Dufrane and Pierre Gianello

Bioengineering of Cells to Produce Insulin for the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus
Norman C Wong

Exocrine-Endocrine Interactions Related to Survival and Cell Plasticity
Lawrence Rosenberg

Part VI - Applicability of the technology

Cell Microencapsulation in Cancer Gene Therapy
Brian Salmons and coll.

Treatment of Brain Tumor with Microencapsulated Cell Therapy
Simone R Niclou and Rolf Bjerkvig

Microencapsulated Cell Therapy of Spinal Cord Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Chronic Pain
Margaret Wheatley

Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases (Parkinson and Alzheimer) with microencapsulated cell therapy
Jo Utvik and Simone Niclou

Cell Microencapsulation for the Treatment of Lysosomal Storage Diseases
Murray Potter and Anna A Li

Cell microencapsulation for the treatment of cardiac diseases
Sheng-shou Hu et al

Alginate Microparticles as Novel Carrier for Oral Insulin Delivery
Ronald Neufeld