BIOHYBRID LUNG

PD Dr. Bettina Wiegmann

 

 

The aim of the working group is to develop an implantable biohybrid lung as an alternative to lung transplantation, which can permanently support or completely take over the blood gas exchange of patients suffering from severe lung and/or heart disease. This development is based on the technology of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which is already used clinically and in which artificial hollow fibers are used to exchange blood gas. However, due to the low blood compatibility of the individual artificial components, ECMO can only be used for a limited period of time (days to weeks), and patients undergoing ECMO therapy must be strictly anticoagulated and receive primary prophylactic antibiotic treatment, meaning that they must be monitored in intensive care. In order to ensure the complete and long-term blood compatibility of the biohybrid lung and to guarantee its permanent functionality, all blood-contacting device components will be colonized with endothelial cells (cells of the inner walls of blood vessels). In addition, computer-aided adaptation of the device geometry is carried out for optimal blood flow dynamics, which prevents so-called "low flow" areas in the system and thus prevents the formation of blood clots on the one hand and hemolysis of the blood components on the other.

1. for this purpose, we are developing surface modifications and coatings that allow endothelial cells to colonize the different artificial materials of the various device components, such as the gas exchange membranes, the blood pump and the tubes.

2. more than 5 x 108 endothelial cells are required for the effective colonization of all device components, which cannot be isolated from the vascular system of the patient who has to use the biohybrid lung. Therefore, we are investigating alternatives (genetically modified cells) to these autologous (patient's own) endothelial cells, comparing their cellular behavior under the conditions prevailing in the biohybrid lung with the behavior of native endothelial cells.

3. using computer-aided models and taking into account the conditions of different degrees and manifestations of pulmonary/cardiac diseases of potential patient groups (e.g. cystic fibrosis, COPD) that are eligible for the application of a biohybrid lung, we develop and test prototypes of the biohybrid lung with regard to their blood flow dynamics and their gas exchange capacity.

4. the prototypes are analyzed in so-called phantom circuits as well as in large and small animal experiments with regard to their biological compatibility, their gas exchange capacity and the flow-dynamic aspects.