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A Microfluidic Model of Biomimetically Breathing Pulmonary Acinar Airways
Published on: May 9, 2016
Towards microfabricated biohybrid artificial lung modules for chronic respiratory support
Kristie A Burgess1, Hsin-Hua Hu, William R Wagner
1Medical Devices Laboratory, 215 McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3025 East Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, USA.
Biomedical Microdevices
|August 13, 2008
Summary
Researchers created artificial lung microchannels using soft lithography. Endothelial cells lined these channels, achieving confluent monolayers, paving the way for improved artificial lung devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Microfluidics
Background:
- The natural lung's microvasculature facilitates efficient gas exchange.
- Artificial lung devices require microchannels that mimic native lung structures for optimal function.
- Endothelial cell lining is crucial for creating non-thrombogenic surfaces in blood-contacting devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop three-dimensional microchannel arrays mimicking the lung's microvasculature using soft lithography.
- To assess the gas permeance and cell culture capabilities of the fabricated microfluidic modules.
- To evaluate the potential of endothelial cell lining for creating a non-thrombogenic surface.
Main Methods:
- Soft lithography was employed to fabricate multi-layered poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) modules.
- Modules were designed for both gas permeance testing (6 layers) and cell culture (2 layers).
- Endothelial cells were seeded and dynamically cultured within the blood microchannels.
Main Results:
- Maximum gas permeance values of 9.16 x 10(-6) mL/s/cm(2)/cmHg for O(2) and 3.55 x 10(-5) mL/s/cm(2)/cmHg for CO(2) were achieved.
- Confluent and viable endothelial cell monolayers were successfully formed after 10 days of dynamic culture.
- Prototype modules demonstrated feasibility for gas exchange and cell culture applications.
Conclusions:
- Soft lithography enables the creation of microchannel arrays at the microvascular scale for artificial lung applications.
- Endothelial cell lining of microchannels promotes a viable and confluent cell monolayer, crucial for biocompatibility.
- These findings support the development of advanced artificial lung technologies with reduced anticoagulation needs.
