>> Research Projects >> Highly elastic hollow fiber membranes

Developing both biodegradable and non-degradable highly elastic hollow fiber membranes for tissue regeneration

Permeable hollow fiber membranes are also very attractive for the regeneration of tublular structure in the body. However, most tubular structures in the body, such as blood vessel, bronchia and bronchiole, esophagus, ureter, etc. are very elastic. In addition to good elasticity, permeability of the structure is very important for cell survival inside the lumen. To this end, we have developed elastic permeable hollow fiber membranes with different degradation properties for engineering different types of tissue. Specialized cells in the tissues mentioned above may maintain their appropriate phenotypes better on the 3-D structure with similar mechanical properties. We are using elastic hollow fiber membranes as a scaffold to study lung tissue development in cell-air interfacing dynamic bioreactors, and also to engineer elementary structural lung unit.


Figure: Cross-section of an elastic biodegradable hollow fiber membrane.

(Click the picture to watch the video of elastic hollow fiber membranes developed in Dr. Wen’s lab).