Employing a physiological microfluidic lung bioreactor to improve understanding of SARS-CoV2 biology and testing of therapeutics

Project description The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that acting quickly is important to adequately combat global health problems. In addition to rapidly identifying and treating patients, it is important to develop good methods to understand infection mechanisms and develop vaccines. This project aims to grow human lung cells in a mini bioreactor to simulate the physiology of lungs as much as possible. Airway 'epithelial' cells and blood vessel lining 'endothelial' cells will be simultaneously grown in the bioreactor, forming an artificial airway and blood vessel, respectively, along which air and growth medium flow. This system is closer to reality than currently available testing methods and will mimic viral infections better. With our system, promising drugs can be tested quickly. In addition, the bioreactor can be made on a commercial scale, and its simplicity will make it easy to implement.