A new polymer is being developed to encapsulate a glucose sensor that would be a

Question

A new polymer is being developed to encapsulate a glucose sensor that would be able to wirelessly send sugar levels to the patient. Because the polymer is encapsulating a sensor that needs to read sugar levels of the surrounding fluid, transport is a concern. One of the issues that could negatively impact mass transport would be a fibrotic layer covering the outside of the polymer. To test this new polymer, the researchers developing it have looked at cell adhesion in vitro. These adhesion tests revealed that cells were completely unable to adhere to the polymer surface after 48h. When these materials were tested in animals for 5 months, there was a fibrotic capsule surrounding the polymer. Provide a possible explanation for this result.

Explanation / Answer

Fibrosis is formation of excessive connective tissue in a tissue or organ which s formed in a repairing process. Based on the data provided, 1 possible reason for this I can think of is due to the immune system of the animal.

Studies done on cell lines (in vitro) may show positive result due to lack of immune cells associated with the cell lines. However, when the polymer is checked inside the body of an animal, it can cause sevre immunological reactions, polymer being a foreign particle to body. These immunological reactions may cause damage to the surrounding of the polymer and result in formation of fibrotic capsule.

In vitro experiments reveal a lot about the desired results or hypothesis, however, mimicing the exact body conditions is never accurately done in the in vitro system. So, it is not surprising to see different results in the in vivo systemm, caused due to uncontrollable nature of the system.

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