Engineering-inspired approaches to study β-cell function and diabetes

Strategies to mitigate the pathologies from diabetes range from simply administering insulin to prescribing complex drug/biologic regimens combined with lifestyle changes. There is a substantial effort to better understand beta-cell physiology during diabetes pathogenesis as a means to develop improved therapies. The convergence of multiple fields ranging from developmental biology to microfluidic engineering has led to the development of new experimental systems to better study complex aspects of diabetes and beta-cell biology. Here we discuss the available insulin-secreting cell types used in research, ranging from primary human beta-cells, to cell lines, to pluripotent stem cell-derived beta-like cells. Each of these sources possess inherent strengths and weaknesses pertinent to specific applications, especially in the context of engineered platforms. We then outline how insulin-expressing cells have been used in engineered platforms and how recent advances allow for better mimicry of in vivo conditions. Chief among these conditions are beta-cell interactions with other endocrine organs. This facet is beginning to be thoroughly addressed by the organ-on-a-chip community, but holds enormous potential in the development of novel diabetes therapeutics. Furthermore, high throughput strategies focused on studying beta-cell biology, improving beta-cell differentiation, or proliferation have led to enormous contributions in the field and will no doubt be instrumental in bringing new diabetes therapeutics to the clinic.

Automated summary

Strategies to mitigate diabetes pathologies range from insulin administration to complex drug regimens with lifestyle changes. Understanding beta-cell physiology is crucial for developing improved therapies, and advancements in various fields have led to new experimental systems for studying diabetes and beta-cell biology. The use of different insulin-secreting cell types and engineered platforms is showing promise in developing novel diabetes therapeutics.