Bioengineered in Vitro Tissue Models to Study SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Validation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• The 21st century has seen numerous viral outbreaks, including the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic and diagnostic solutions.
• Conventional treatment options for infectious diseases are insufficient, necessitating alternative approaches for effective disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review tissue engineering-based diagnostic systems for SARS-CoV-2.
• To explore the application of organ-on-a-chip, organoids, 3D bioprinting, and bioreactor models for developing in vitro human tissue models.
• To emphasize the potential of tissue engineering in patient-specific therapy, drug/vaccine development, and understanding viral infection mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on tissue engineering applications for viral infections.
• Discussion of various tissue engineering strategies: organ-on-a-chip, organoids, 3D bioprinting, and advanced bioreactors.
• Analysis of biomaterial properties influencing immune response and regenerative microenvironments.

Main Results:

• Tissue engineering strategies provide viable alternatives for developing precise anti-coronavirus drugs and prophylactics.
• In vitro human tissue models facilitate efficient diagnosis, drug/vaccine development, and personalized therapy.
• Understanding biomaterial interactions with immune cells (dendritic cells, macrophages, B and T lymphocytes) is crucial for fostering regenerative tissue microenvironments.

Conclusions:

• Combining virology with tissue engineering techniques is critical for understanding viral infection mechanisms and designing effective drugs.
• Tissue engineering platforms offer suitable environments for drug testing and delivery, leading to therapeutic tools against SARS-CoV-2.
• Tissue engineering presents significant translational opportunities to address the challenges posed by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.