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Probing Lung Function at High Spatiotemporal Resolution via Crystal Ribcage

Nia HT, Banerji R, Grifno GN.

Respiratory Drug Delivery 2024. Volume 1, 2024: 1-8.

Abstract:

The lung, constantly in motion and exposed to biological, mechanical, chemical stressors, is the site of numerous diseases including primary and metastatic cancers, respiratory infections and obstructive and restrictive diseases. Existing imaging techniques lack the spatial resolution to track disease progression at the cellular scale, and intravital microscopy compromises the respiratory function of the lungs. This article describes the development of a transparent ‘crystal’ ribcage platform for probing real-time, high-resolution ventilation and vascular transport dynamics in functional mouse lungs ex vivo. We then utilized the crystal ribcage to map the remodeling of these dynamics at alveolar and capillary scales in both primary and metastatic cancers, bacterial pneumonia, and fibrosis. The crystal ribcage and its broad applications offers a versatile tool for studying lung function and disease pathogenesis, aiding in the development of targeted treatment approaches.