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Abstract

Immune recognition of a transplant such as tissue implanted in a host mammal is obscured by encapsulating the transplant in a hydrogel matrix containing gelatin, dextran, at least one nitric oxide inhibitor and polar amino acids. The polar amino acids increase rigidity of the matrix and allow direct injection of the encapsulated transplant into a mammal without further immunosuppression. Preferably, the nitric oxide inhibitor is a combination of L-cysteine and an L-arginine analogue such as aminoguanidine, and the polar amino acids are a combination of L-glutamic acid, L-lysine and L-arginine. The matrix may also contain a superoxide inhibitor such as EDTA. Implanting can be carried out by applying a buffer medium containing a nitric oxide inhibitor to an implant site, implanting the encapsulated transplant, and applying to the implant site a buffer medium which may contain a nitric oxide inhibitor. The buffer medium may also contain a superoxide inhibitor. The buffer medium applied after implanting, may be applied once a day for about one to about seven days. The matrix binds to cell surface proteins of encapsulated transplant tissue to obscure recognition of the tissue by antibodies produced by a recipient of the tissue.

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