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Next generation bioengineering of lung tissue for transplantation

De Santis, Martina M. LU orcid (2021) In Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Abstract
Lung transplantation is the only option for end-stage lung diseases, but organ shortage remains problematic. Generating lungs ex vivo could overcome shortages with current approaches being explored for lung tissue engineering utilizing a biologically derived, synthetic or hybrid scaffold which is seeded with cells and cultured ex vivo. Ideally, cells could be sourced from the transplant recipient and thus are conceptualized to reduce the long-term requirements for immunosuppressive drugs and the risk for rejection. Progenitor cell populations can be controlled more easily than induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs), with lower risk of tumour formation. However, as presented in this thesis, progenitor cells can be deranged in diseased lungs... (More)
Lung transplantation is the only option for end-stage lung diseases, but organ shortage remains problematic. Generating lungs ex vivo could overcome shortages with current approaches being explored for lung tissue engineering utilizing a biologically derived, synthetic or hybrid scaffold which is seeded with cells and cultured ex vivo. Ideally, cells could be sourced from the transplant recipient and thus are conceptualized to reduce the long-term requirements for immunosuppressive drugs and the risk for rejection. Progenitor cell populations can be controlled more easily than induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs), with lower risk of tumour formation. However, as presented in this thesis, progenitor cells can be deranged in diseased lungs such as for example idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and are therefore unlikely candidates to generate healthy tissue. In addition to healthy cells, scaffolds with attributes known to be pro-regenerative are required to generate healthy tissues. In the thesis it is shown that both scaffold and cell age plays a role in the regenerative capacity of a tissue. From this it is clear that to generate a healthy tissue or organ, it is critical to find the appropriate scaffold and cell type. Additionally, bioengineering manufacturing methods that generate reproducible, custom-made, high resolution constructs using cytocompatible materials are ideal for tissue engineering approaches. One such method which is compatible with the criteria above and that has emerged in recent years is 3D printing. 3D printing or bioprinting (when cells are printed) can generate custom structures relevant for human lungs. In this thesis, potential bioinks for bioprinting lung tissue are investigated. A tissue-specific hybrid bioink consisting of alginate, reinforced with extracellular matrix from decellularized lung tissue (rECM) was used to 3D bioprint human airways comprised of regionally specified primary cells which remained patent over time. The biocompatibility and vascularisation of rECM hydrogels was investigated in both T-cell immunodeficient mice mimicking the clinical scenario and immunocompetent mice. Bioprinted rECM hydrogels support the formation of an intact vascular network throughout the full thickness of the graft, comprised of both large and small size blood vessels and integrate well in the surrounding tissue. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Janes, Sam M., University College London
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
in
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
issue
2021:14
pages
95 pages
publisher
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
defense location
Segerfalksalen, BMC A10, Sölvegatan 17 i Lund
defense date
2021-02-19 14:30:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-8021-020-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
eaaf4197-e6f1-4af4-9baf-30816410fe31
date added to LUP
2021-01-27 20:23:16
date last changed
2021-02-12 02:19:11
@phdthesis{eaaf4197-e6f1-4af4-9baf-30816410fe31,
  abstract     = {{Lung transplantation is the only option for end-stage lung diseases, but organ shortage remains problematic. Generating lungs ex vivo could overcome shortages with current approaches being explored for lung tissue engineering utilizing a biologically derived, synthetic or hybrid scaffold which is seeded with cells and cultured ex vivo. Ideally, cells could be sourced from the transplant recipient and thus are conceptualized to reduce the long-term requirements for immunosuppressive drugs and the risk for rejection. Progenitor cell populations can be controlled more easily than induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs), with lower risk of tumour formation. However, as presented in this thesis, progenitor cells can be deranged in diseased lungs such as for example idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and are therefore unlikely candidates to generate healthy tissue. In addition to healthy cells, scaffolds with attributes known to be pro-regenerative are required to generate healthy tissues. In the thesis it is shown that both scaffold and cell age plays a role in the regenerative capacity of a tissue. From this it is clear that to generate a healthy tissue or organ, it is critical to find the appropriate scaffold and cell type. Additionally, bioengineering manufacturing methods that generate reproducible, custom-made, high resolution constructs using cytocompatible materials are ideal for tissue engineering approaches. One such method which is compatible with the criteria above and that has emerged in recent years is 3D printing. 3D printing or bioprinting (when cells are printed) can generate custom structures relevant for human lungs. In this thesis, potential bioinks for bioprinting lung tissue are investigated. A tissue-specific hybrid bioink consisting of alginate, reinforced with extracellular matrix from decellularized lung tissue (rECM) was used to 3D bioprint human airways comprised of regionally specified primary cells which remained patent over time. The biocompatibility and vascularisation of rECM hydrogels was investigated in both T-cell immunodeficient mice mimicking the clinical scenario and immunocompetent mice. Bioprinted rECM hydrogels support the formation of an intact vascular network throughout the full thickness of the graft, comprised of both large and small size blood vessels and integrate well in the surrounding tissue.}},
  author       = {{De Santis, Martina M.}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8021-020-1}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2021:14}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Next generation bioengineering of lung tissue for transplantation}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/90537869/Martina_De_Santis_Dissertation_Web.pdf}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}