The rapid development of vaccines and treatments has become more important than ever to combat numerous viruses, including COVID-19. On average, it takes 10 to 15 years, and an astronomical cost of more than 1 trillion KRW, to develop a new vaccines. This is because it is difficult to fully reproduce the environment in the body with existing platforms, which mainly use 2D cell culture or animal testing. To increase the success rate, a precise description of the environment in the body is the key.
Professor Sung June Jung (MSE) and Dr. Yun-ji Kim’s research team succeeded in creating an artificial lung for the study and drug testing of respiratory diseases through joint research with Mi-Hyeon Kim of Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Research Center at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (RICT) and Dr. Myoung-kyu Lee’s research team. The study was published in the online edition of Biomaterials, a renowned international journal in Biomaterials. The team implemented a real human respiratory system with 3D bioprinting technology, in which several characteristics such as cell-to-cell junction and mucus secretion were reproduced very similarly.
Unlike the previous 2D model, the research team’s model remained infected for much longer. Through this, the research team succeeded in discovering changes in gene expression that affect the infection route, virus proliferation, and host immune response. In the existing 2D cell culture method, drugs were administered directly to epithelial cells. Still, the study could accurately verify the effectiveness, appropriate dose, and potential side effects of the treatment because the efficacy was evaluated after the drug passed through the tissue barrier through artificial lung tissue.
Prof. Jung said, “The academic community is warning that there is a high possibility that a respiratory virus such as COVID-19 will emerge within 10 years,” and added, “This study will significantly reduce the process of developing new drugs and help develop treatments for COVID-19 as well as treatments for various respiratory diseases.” This research was conducted with the support of a mid-sized researcher support project of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the healthcare technology research and development project of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW).
