# US 2026/0076997 A1 · Cell implant including biodegradable porous microwell with stem cell-derived insulin-secreting cell aggregate supported therein, and use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0076997 A1 - Document ID: US20260076997A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/103,959 - Filed: 2023-06-19 - Published: 2026-03-19 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-17 - Assignees: Postech Research and Business Development Foundation; The Asan Foundation; University of Ulsan Foundation for Industry Cooperation - Applicants: Postech Research and Business Development Foundation; The Asan Foundation; University of Ulsan Foundation for Industry Cooperation - Inventors: Dong Sung KIM; Seong Jin LEE; Song Cheol KIM; Jaeseung YOON; Do Hui KIM; In Kyong SHIM; Yuna LEE; Seongsu EOM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260076997A1 ## CPC - A61K 35/39: Pancreas; Islets of Langerhans (Langerhans cells of epidermis A61K35/36) - A61P 3/10: for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics - C12N 5/00: Undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, e.g. cell lines; Tissues; Cultivation or maintenance thereof; Culture media therefor; (plant reproduction by tissue culture techniques A01H4/00) - C12N 5/0075: {using microcarriers} - C12N 5/06: {Animal cells or tissues; Human cells or tissues (preservation of excised living parts A01N1/10)} - C12N 5/0676: {Pancreatic cells} - C12N 5/0677: {Three-dimensional culture, tissue culture or organ culture; Encapsulated cells} - C12N 2506/45: from artificially induced pluripotent stem cells - C12N 2513/00: 3D culture - C12N 2533/40: Polyhydroxyacids, e.g. polymers of glycolic or lactic acid (PGA, PLA, PLGA); Bioresorbable polymers - C12N 2535/00: Supports or coatings for cell culture characterised by topography - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a transplantable cell therapy product composition for diabetes mellitus that contains an aggregate of insulin-secreting cells derived from stem cells. In the present disclosure, an NF microwell array membrane was fabricated by applying a molding process to an electrospun, permeable, biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) NF membrane and thus allows gases and soluble factors to permeate therethrough. The NF microwell of the present disclosure could provide more nutrients to the iPSC aggregates than conventional impermeable PDMS microwells, thus enhancing survival and differentiation capabilities of the cells. Additionally, the NF membrane was attached singly to the subcutaneous tissue and to the surface of organs such as liver and peritoneum without the need for a fixing material or separate sutures and was integrated with surrounding tissues, resulting in higher insulin secretion than PDMS microwells. Therefore, the present disclosure can be effectively utilized as a composition for the prevention or treatment of diabetes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for differentiating into an insulin-secreting cell aggregate, comprising seeding and culturing stem cells or progenitor cells into a porous microwell array. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The differentiating method of claim 1, wherein the stem cells include an induced pluripotent stem cell, an embryonic stem cell, or an adult stem cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The differentiating method of claim 1, wherein the porous microwell has an inlet diameter of 400 to 1,000 μm and a depth of 120 to 900 μm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The differentiating method of claim 1, wherein the porous microwell has the pore size of 0.01 to 10 μm and the porosity of 3% to 25%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The differentiating method of claim 1, wherein the material permeability of the porous microwell for soluble factors is 1×10−7 cm/s to 1×10−5 cm/s. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The differentiating method of claim 5, wherein the soluble factor is at least one selected from a group consisting of glucose, a ROCK inhibitor, activin A, a GSK-3 inhibitor, dorsomorphin, retinoic acid, an ALK5 inhibitor, SANT-1, insulin and a growth factor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The differentiating method of claim 1, wherein the porous microwell is composed of biodegradable polymer nanofibers having a diameter of 100 nm to 2000 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The differentiating method of claim 1, further comprising: i) inducing the seeded stem cells or progenitor cells into definitive endoderm cells; ii) inducing the induced definitive endoderm cells into pancreatic progenitor cells; and iii) inducing the induced pancreatic progenitor cells into insulin-producing cells. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A cell implant comprising a porous microwell supported with an insulin-secreting cell aggregate derived from stem cells or progenitor cells differentiated by the differentiating method of claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cell implant of claim 10, wherein the porous microwell is a biodegradable porous microwell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cell implant of claim 11, wherein the biodegradable porous microwell is at least one selected from a group consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The cell implant of claim 10, wherein the cell implant is used for treating diabetes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The cell implant of claim 11, wherein the cell implant is attached singly to be transplantable. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method for treating diabetes comprising transplanting into a diabetic patient a cell implant comprising a porous microwell supported with an insulin-secreting cell aggregate derived from stem cells or progenitor cells differentiated by the differentiating method of claim 1.