Measurements of the effective diffusion coefficient of oxygen in pancreatic islets

Efstathios S. Avgoustiniatos, Keith E. Dionne, David F. Wilson, Martin L. Yarmush, Clark K. Colton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effective diffusion coefficient of oxygen in pancreatic islets is an important parameter that is needed for the development of models of viability and function of pancreatic islets that are transplanted to cure diabetes, especially when encapsulated in devices. We have developed a method for estimating the maximum oxygen consumption rate (Vmax) and the oxygen permeability in tissue (αtDt) in a suspension of spherical aggregates of different sizes from measurements of the bulk oxygen partial pressure in batch oxygen consumption experiments. The method made use of a model of oxygen consumption and diffusion in the spheres and a parameter estimation scheme. Measurements made with three different batches of rat islets yielded batch averages of Vmax = 3.40 ± 0.77 × 10 _8 mol/(cm3 s) and αtDt = 1.34 ± 0.36 × 10-14 mol/(cm mmHg s). Using a literature estimate for the solubility (αt) yields Dt= 1.31 ± 0.36 × 10-5 cm2/s at 37°C. These oxygen permeability and diffusion coefficient values are ∼38% and ∼47% of their values in water, respectively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6157-6163
Number of pages7
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume46
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 12 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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