3D Ex Vivo Human Respiratory System Tissue Model Introduction

Respiratory disease is a vital factor threatening global health, and more and more models have been developed for the research of respiratory diseases. At Creative Biolabs, our platform combines powerful technologies to provide diverse ex vivo models to help you rationally and efficiently conduct preclinical drug development for respiratory diseases.

Overview of Respiratory Disorders

The respiratory system is a network of tissues that aid in breathing and provide a powerful guarantee for the normal functioning of organs. In general, people with a weakened immune system are more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. Respiratory diseases are divided into two types, infectious and chronic. Common respiratory diseases include asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumonia. Respiratory disorders can affect a variety of structures and organs involved in breathing, such as the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs.

Fig.1 Common respiratory diseases. (Shrestha, 2020)

Why Develop Ex Vivo Models?

Common cell models lack insight into complex pathophysiological processes at the system level due to the lack of cell type diversity. In turn, the availability of complex susceptible animal models is often limited. Therefore, the development of preclinical ex vivo models that adequately reflect the infection route and infection-induced cellular damage is highly desirable. Ex vivo models are a vital bridge between cell culture and in vivo models, providing a more realistic testing system for drug screening. Currently, ex vivo infection models have been introduced as attractive platforms for the study of infection and antiviral responses as well as drug development.

Ex vivo human lung tissue model Tissue Model

Traditional cell culture models are insufficient to reflect the cellular composition and matrix complexity of the human lung. On the other hand, there are species differences in comprehensive animal models. The use of ex vivo cultured infected human lung tissue can overcome some limitations and complement traditional models. These ex vivo 3D models hold great potential for studying parenchymal toxicity, inflammation and pathological changes, as these models preserve cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that characterize pathogenic processes.

Ex vivo human trachea tissue model Tissue Model

Cellular models cannot properly assess compound effects on trachea cell growth and differentiation. Therefore, ex vivo models were developed, which enable the assessment of the speciation and metabolism of different compounds under near-physiological conditions. Compared with normal cell culture, the ex vivo models preserve the original phenotype and environment of the tracheobronchial surface.

Ex vivo human bronchi tissue model Tissue Model

Ex vivo explants have complex architecture. Furthermore, ex vivo models lack the capacity to recruit cells or components of the adaptive immune system, which allows the characterization of primary infection in a controlled system. In conclusion, the ex vivo bronchial model offers an opportunity to safely test new antiviral compounds.

Ex vivo human nasal cavity model Tissue Model

The human nasal cavity is a complex structure with specific anatomical regions that can be targeted according to the intended therapeutic application. Ex vivo human tissue models are whole tissues extracted from human donors. To preserve tissue viability, the time elapsed between tissue excision and penetration testing should be as short as possible. Depending on the tissue application, precautions should be taken regarding tissue handling.

Fig.2 Featured ex vivo models. (Creative Biolabs)

Creative Biolabs is a leading global provider of biological samples and value-added services, understanding your respiratory sample needs. We are able to ethically collect diseased biological samples as well as normal human samples, tailoring collections to meet your specific needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Reference

Shrestha, J.; et al. Lung-on-a-chip: the future of respiratory disease models and pharmacological studies. Critical reviews in biotechnology. 2020, 40(2): 213-230.

Research Model

3D Biology Based Biomarker Discovery

3D Biology Based Drug Discovery and Development

3D Biology Based Toxicity Evaluation

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