Second-generation lung-on-a-chip array with a stretchable biological membrane

Abstract

The complex architecture of the lung parenchyma and the air-blood barrier is difficult to mimic in-vitro. Recently reported lung-on-a-chips used a thin, porous and stretchable PDMS membrane, to mimic the air-blood barrier and the rhythmic breathing motions. However, the nature, the properties and the size of this PDMS membrane differ from the extracellular matrix of the distal airways. Here, we present a second-generation lung-on-a-chip with an array of in vivolike sized alveoli and a stretchable biological me…