Respiratory Tissue Engineering

 

The lungs are responsible for gas exchange. Therefore, air is conducted into and out of the lungs via the airways. Nevertheless, the airways do not only conduct air, but are also responsible for warming and humidifying the incoming air and filtering of small particles. In addition, the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane are covered with many small hairs-like structures, the cilia. Similar to the hands of an audience during stage diving at rock concerts, these cilia transport mucus and particles out of the lungs and thus clean the respiratory tract. In the periphery of the lungs, the gas exchange between air and the blood takes place. Oxygen is absorbed and distributed in the body; carbon dioxide is removed from the body into the air. Many diseases can restrict or inhibit the functioning of the lungs and airways, the most common being cancer and chronic and acute lung failures.

 

The research group Respiratory Tissue Engineering focuses on the regeneration of the lungs and respiratory tract. The following topics are part of our work:

The Breathing Gut

Enteral CO₂ elimination in the treatment of chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. Breathing Gut

EndoSpray

Efficient cell coating of biohybrid lungs by atomization of shear-stress resistant endothelial cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. EndoSpray

EndOxy inFlame

EndOx in Flame - Influence of a Biohybrid Lung on Inflammatory Pathways and Immune System-Endothelial Cell-Interaction

EndOxy

In the EndOxy project we develop a biohybrid lung, which enables patients with life-threatening lung failure to receive long-term lung support. EndOxy

PulmoStent

To improve life quality of lung cancer patients we develop a biohybrid respiratory stent PulmoStent.

Cell Spraying

In the CellSpray project, we are developing an innovative spraying process for local cell therapy of the lungs. Cell spraying

MEꓱT

We are part of the Research Training Group MEꓱT “Mechanobiology in Epithelial 3D Tissue Constructs”, which focusses is on the mechanobiology of surface-lining epithelia such as the skin and mucosa, which are exposed to extreme mechanical strain. ME3T

Cell Spraying

In the Cell Spraying project we are working on the application of an innovatice spraying process for local cell therapy of the lungs.