Publications by authors named "Kayshani R Kanagarajah"
Thin cell culture membranes in organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices are used to model a wide range of thin tissues. While early and most current platforms use microporous or fibrous elastomeric or thermoplastic membranes, there is an emerging class of devices using extra-cellular matrix (ECM) protein-based membranes to improve their biological relevance. These ECM-based membranes present physiologically relevant properties, but they are difficult to integrate into OOC devices due to their relative fragility.
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- The lower respiratory tract consists of a network of flexible tubes lined with a special layer of cells, but existing airway models haven't fully mimicked their natural characteristics, specifically regarding stress and structural shape.
- A new airway model using collagen tubes has been developed, allowing for realistic growth conditions that simulate human small airways and enabling dynamic studies of breathing mechanics and their effects on the cells lining the airways.
- Research using this model shows that the repetitive opening and collapsing of airways can cause more damage to the cells than simply over-expanding them, indicating a need for strategies to reduce airway collapse during ventilation.