Using a Novel Microfabricated Model of the Alveolar-Capillary Barrier to Investigate the Effect of Matrix Structure on Atelectrauma.

ABSTRACT: The alveolar-capillary barrier is composed of epithelial and endothelial cells interacting across a fibrous extracelluar matrix (ECM). Although remodeling of the ECM occurs during several lung disorders, it is not known how fiber structure and mechanics influences cell injury during cyclic airway reopening as occurs during mechanical ventilation (atelectrauma). We have developed a novel in vitro platform that mimics the micro/nano-scale architecture of the alveolar microenvironment and have used this system to investigate how ECM microstructural properties influence epithelial cell injury during airway reopening. In addition to epithelial-endothelial interactions, our platform accounts for the fibrous topography of the basal membrane and allows for easy modulation of fiber size/diameter, d

SUBMITTER: Higuita-Castro N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5599538 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature