Decellularized Human-Sized Pulmonary Scaffolds for Lung Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The ultimate goal of lung bioengineering is to produce transplantable lungs for human beings. Therefore, large-scale studies are of high importance. In this paper, we review the investigations on decellularization and recellularization of human-sized lung scaffolds. First, studies that introduce new ways to enhance the decellularization of large-scale lungs are reviewed, followed by the investigations on the xenogeneic sources of lung scaffolds. Then, decellularization and recellularization of diseased lung scaffolds are discussed to assess their usefulness for tissue engineering applications. Next, the use of stem cells in recellularizing acellular lung scaffolds is reviewed, followed by the case studies on the transplantation of bioengineered lungs. Finally, the remaining challenges are discussed, and future directions are highlighted.

Graphical abstract

Keywords::

• bioreactors
• decellularization
• ex vivo lung engineering
• organ transplantation
• recellularization
• stem cells

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the Research Center for New Technologies in Life Science Engineering of the University of Tehran for its scientific support and express their gratitude to the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) for supporting this research.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This research is supported by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under grant number 78042095. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Financial & competing interests disclosure This research is supported by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under grant number 78042095. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.