Daniel Brandhorst

My research interest is to reduce hypoxia-induced damage in human islets of Langerhans during pancreas procurement, after isolation and subsequent to transplantation.

During the last years we identified perfluorohexyloctane as an efficient oxygen carrier for human pancreas preservation. This substance is characterised by increased lipophilicity and lower gravity compared to already established compounds and recently obtained approval for clinical use. We are currently aiming to develop an emulsion that combines the characteristics of both hyperoxygen carriers and organ preservation solutions.

In contrast to whole pancreases isolated islets can easily be treated during cell culture to increase their resistance toward hypoxia-induced damage prior to and after transplantation into recipients. Currently, we investigate whether islet susceptiblity toward hypoxia can be reduced by inducing intrinsic mechanisms for stress resistance or by using potentially protective substances.