Overview
- A University of Duisburg-Essen team generated induced pluripotent stem cell–derived lung organoids using a membrane-stirred tank bioreactor over a four-week culture.
- Microscopy, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and RNA sequencing confirmed airway and alveolar structures with characteristic epithelial and mesodermal lung cells.
- Compared with manual cultures, bioreactor organoids were larger and contained fewer alveolar spheres, while manual organoids showed a higher proportion of alveolar cells.
- The automated workflow reduces manual labor and supports plans for high-throughput therapeutic screening and exploratory patient-specific testing from individual cell sources.
- Current gaps include missing infiltrating immune cells, vasculature, and perfusion, and the team aims to optimize protocols and pursue full differentiation directly in the bioreactor.