An Effort to 3-D Print a Lung
A new study from Duke researchers and their collaborators aims to create the first dynamic, 3D-bioprinted lung model that breathes like real human tissue, providing scientists with a view into how flu viruses and bacteria interact. By revealing why some microbial combinations make influenza far more virulent while others may actually strengthen immune defenses, the work could guide the development of more effective vaccines and targeted treatments. Because the model more accurately mimics human lungs than animals or static cell cultures, it has the potential to transform the study of respiratory diseases.
This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
