Fig. 2

Scheme of the patient-specific therapy using cell-reprogramming technology. Hepatocytes are obtained from a diabetic patient by a laparoscopic partial hepatectomy. Cross-linked polyethylenimine (PEI)-DNA complexes are transfected into these hepatocytes with the aid of ultrasound (US) with microbubbles. The transfection leads to trans-differentiation from hepatocytes into insulin-producing cells (IPCs). The induced IPCs are auto-transplanted to the liver via laparoscopic portal injection, to re-establish the endogenous secretion system of insulin