Engineering a dynamic model of the alveolar interface for the study of aerosol deposition

Abstract

Nano and micro particles are widely used in industrial, household and medicinal applications. To understand the interaction between particles and epithelial cells, we developed a dynamic model of the alveolar interface. This system, named DALI (Dynamic Model for the ALveolar Interface), is a modular bioreactor composed of two chambers divided by a porous membrane where epithelial lung cells are seeded. The membrane is the support of the alveolar barrier that separates the two compartments of the alveolus: the air and blood side. The system integrates the following elements: i) Air/Liquid interface, thanks to the two chambers divided by the membrane: ii) Cell culture media flow, thanks to the presence of a peristaltic pump; iii) Lung breathing motion, thanks to an airflow that allows the stretching of the membrane; iv) Aerosol deposition system, to study the effects of drug efficacy or particle toxicity on the epithelial layer; v) Quartz Crystal Microbalance, to quantify the amount of aerosolized particles.

The Italian Centro 3R: Mission and early achievements presented during the Second Annual Meeting

“…Of interest to biomedical engineers and scientists are the novel models of epithelial tissues: some focus on corneal epithelia for drug delivery and permeability studies, 4,5 bioreactors with integrated TEER and flow as physiologically relevant in vitro models 6 (bioreactors with cyclic) membrane deformation for lung models. 7 Given the extensive expertise on materials and materials engineering in the Centro 3R, many examples of novel scaffolds are reported too. [8][9][10][11][12] In conclusion, these special issues are testament to the depth and breadth of work being performed in Italy as well as the commitment of its scientists to the principles of the 3Rs.…”