The Biohybrid Lung

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The Biohybrid Lung

In the European Union, 700 lung transplantations are performed for the treatment of lung failure per year. Because organ shortage limits this number, 20% of patients on the waiting list for a transplant die every year. Lung transplantation’s associated risks such as acute and chronic graft rejection, the need for life-long immunosuppression and a five year survival rate of just above 50% lead to its classification as a treatment of last resort. In addition, the development of obstructive bronchiolitis over time is a major problem in these patients. Leading to transplantation early in life, Mucoviscidosis is the most frequent inborn cause of terminal chronic respiratory insufficiency with an incidence of 1 in 3000 live-births. End stage treatment of other chronic respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary arterial hypertension also involves lung transplantation as the final treatment option.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) can replace the lungs’ gas exchange capacity until recovery or may be used as bridge-to-transplant in terminal lung failure. However, limited hemocompatibility associated with possible subsequent plasma leakage and loss of gas transfer capacity due to unspecific protein adsorption on the gas exchange membranesas well as inflammatory processes initiated by the foreign material’s surface limit its use for long-term application. Also, the limitations delineated above constrained the development of a fully implantable lung assist device.

Catherine Darley
Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
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biotechbiomaterials@journalres.org