Project description
Bio-inspired artificial respiration devices
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung condition characterised by rapid onset of inflammation in the lungs, causing fluid buildup and impaired oxygen uptake. Existing therapies like mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) exhibit high risks. ECMO uses synthetic hollow fibre membranes to replace lung function but falls short with regard to efficiency and haemocompatibility. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the BioMembrOS project proposes to mimic the respiration of birds and fish for a more effective biomimetic approach against ARDS. Researchers will develop membrane structures that offer improved haemocompatibility and gas permeability. Collectively, the work is expected to revolutionise artificial respiration devices.
Objective
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is currently seen in huge numbers of patients worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
but also before that, respiratory diseases were the third largest cause of death in the EU. Current therapy for respiratory failure
includes mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) both associated with high morbidity and
mortality. In ECMO devices the functionality of the lungs tissue membranes that are responsible for gas exchange during breathing is
usually taken over by bundles of synthetic cylindrical hollow fiber membranes. Geometries and transport characteristics of standard
hollow fiber membranes are not suitable for re-building the structurally complex and dynamic contracting microstructure of the
mammalian lung and consequently, artificial devices to assist/replace respiration still face major limitations in size, flow characteristics
and hemocompatibility that impede the development of efficient intracorporeal devices. In BioMembrOS, we want to follow a
groundbreaking new biomimetic approach, and replicate main characteristics of the most effective respiration found in vertebrates,
mainly birds and fish, in order to develop membrane structures that will serve as key elements for a novel generation of artificial
respiration devices. To reach this goal, we will a) optimize geometry of the membrane structure by mimicking microstructure of the
gills of fish to increase outer surface per membrane area, mimicking globular shape of the gas transporting inner lumen and
interconnected arrangement of membrane fibers of avian respiration; b) design and control flow characteristics and boundary layer
applying μPIV experimental flow investigations and structural design optimization; c) design and synthesize bi-soft segment
polyurethane membranes with increased hemocompatibility and gas permeability with phase inversion; and d) verify and benchmark
the boosted mass transfer capabilities by in-vitro blood tests
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringfibers
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencespolyurethane
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusescoronaviruses
- natural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometry
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringmedical laboratory technologylaboratory samples analysis
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinator
1040 Wien
Austria