A novel biomaterial-based therapy to prevent type 1 diabetes

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Immune-mediated diseases such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosis are reaching epidemic proportions in the US. T1D affects an estimated 3 million Americans, with more than 30,000 new patients diagnosed annually, resulting in roughly 15B in health care costs in the US each year. T1D is an autoimmune disease characterized by effector T-cell mediated destruction of insulin-producing ?-cells, which renders thepatient unable to produce insulin and forces the patient to constantly monitor their glucose levels and manually administer insulin for the remainder of their life. Ultimately, glucose metabolism is interrupted, resulting in the development of life-threatening complications such as heart disease and renal failure. Clearly, the cost associated with treatment and care of T1D in the US is significant, both to society and the individual, and a novel therapy is desperately needed to thwart this aberrant autoimm