Developing PHA-based biomaterials for pulmonary drug delivery on advanced 3D lung/immune cell models (Industry Project) KIRKSTALL

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Lung is an attractive but challenging target for drug delivery. The enormous surface area of the lung is well-suited for both topical and systemic absorption of medications. On the other hand, lung has efficient mechanical, chemical, and immunological mechanisms that can protect the body from unwanted inhaled materials. Clinically inhalation has been used as the major route for pulmonary drug administration. Thus, developing less immunogenic vehicles is crucial for pulmonary drug delivery. However, preclinical development of pulmonary drug delivery using in vivo models is not very efficient due to a significant difference between human and animal lungs. The barrier functions from the transwell-based in vitro lung models generally depend on the mechanical properties of the transwell insert scaffolds, which is far from clinically relevant. Therefore, advanced pulmonary models are needed to reflect the alveolar-capillary barrier and the relevant immune response. Quasi Vivo System is an in vitro transwell-based culture systems developed by Kirkstall Ltd. The system allows dynamic perfusion. A lung/immune cell co-culture model using this technology has been recently developed by Chandorkar et al. and showed better airway cell development and improved barrier function.