Study lung physiology, disease, and the effect of drug candidates

The Lung-Chip is a Guided Model that Emulate has firsthand experience developing and supporting. It can be created using a Basic Research Kit and a user’s own cell sources. As a Guided Model, Emulate offers guidelines and field scientist support for building a Lung-Chip using the Human Emulation System.

Human-based co-culture models with relevant physical forces

Unlike commonly used cell line models, the Lung-Chip incorporates a co-culture of primary human lung epithelial and endothelial cells in a dynamic microenvironment. Cell-cell interactions, flow, and stretch when relevant improve functionality, resulting in in vivo-like cell differentiation, cilia behavior, mucociliary clearance, and a tight epithelial barrier.

Human-relevant models of the alveolus and small airway

Both models include epithelial and lung-specific endothelial cells on either side of a porous, ECM-coated membrane. Researchers can incorporate mechanical cues and soluble factors critical to cell function and differentiation in vivo.

Primary human cell model

A co-culture of primary human epithelial and endothelial lung cells allows for cell-cell interactions and reduces translational challenges caused by species differences in animal models.

Tissue-relevant mechanical forces

A dynamic microenvironment—
including media flow and stretch to emulate peristalsis—is modeled on-chip to improve functionality and morphology as well as promote ciliation and formation of confluent epithelial and endothelial layers.

Air-liquid interface (ALI)

The Lung-Chip supports human-relevant exposure of the epithelium to air as seen in vivo, promoting epithelial cell differentiation.