American scientists successfully recreate artificial lungs

For the first time in history, scientists in the US have successfully recreated an artificial lung in the laboratory. This is considered a major step forward in regenerative medicine, but this technology will not be available to patients in the near future.

Artificial lungs grown in the laboratory

“At first glance, the artificial lung looks exactly like a normal lung,” said Joan Nichols, a researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Recreating a lung that was once only seen in science fiction movies is now getting closer to reality.

If the lungs can function normally, the thousands of patients waiting for lung transplants in the US and around the world will have hope of returning to normal life. More importantly, the lungs are one of many body parts that are being studied and recreated in the laboratory. Scientists believe that a more realistic future for regenerative medicine.

“Such techniques would provide an alternative in the face of a severe shortage of organ donors,” said Dr. Stephen Badylak, deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Researchers in Galveston, Texas, began the study with lungs from two children who died in car accidents. The lungs were too damaged to be used in transplants, but the scientists kept healthy tissue.

Scientists then took cells from the lungs and placed them in a pre-made mold. The lung cells were nurtured in a large chamber filled with liquid. After about four weeks, the regenerated lungs began to grow and look like human lungs.

Repeating this process several times, scientists created lungs from two other deceased children. Dr. Nichois said the lungs look very similar to the real thing but are softer and lighter. It will take about 12 years for scientists to be ready for transplants.

Before moving on to human trials, scientists will conduct lung transplants on animals, which can be done on pigs. In 2011, scientists in the US created an artificial trachea. Since then, six transplants have been performed successfully.

Two of the six transplant patients died of causes not directly related to the artificial trachea, said David Green, executive director of regenerative device technology at Harvard.

According to CNN