Reversed-engineered human alveolar lung-on-a-chip model

Here, we present a physiologically relevant model of the human pulmonary alveoli. This alveolar lung-on-a-chip platform is composed of a three-dimensional porous hydrogel made of gelatin methacryloyl with an inverse opal structure, bonded to a compartmentalized polydimethylsiloxane chip. The inverse opal hydrogel structure features well-defined, interconnected pores with high similarity to human alveolar sacs. By populating the sacs with primary human alveolar epithelial cells, functional epithelial monolayers are readily formed. Cyclic strain is integrated into the device to allow biomimetic breathing events of the alveolar lung, which, in addition, makes it possible to investigate pathological effects such as those incurred by cigarette smoking and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pseudoviral infection. Our study demonstrates a unique method for reconstitution of the functional human pulmonary alveoli in vitro, which is anticipated to pave the way for investigating relevant physiological and pathological events in the human distal lung.

Automated summary

This study introduces a physiologically relevant model of human pulmonary alveoli, utilizing a lung-on-a-chip platform with an inverse opal hydrogel structure and primary human alveolar epithelial cells. The integration of cyclic strain allows for biomimetic breathing events and investigation into pathological effects like smoking and SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviral infection. This unique method for reconstituting functional human pulmonary alveoli in vitro has the potential to advance research on physiological and pathological events in the distal lung.