AlveoliX achieves breakthrough with Lung-on-Chip model in respiratory research

Bernese start-up AlveoliX has published a study confirming the efficacy of its Lung-on-Chip model the study of respiratory diseases. The study, conducted with leading academic and industrial partners, demonstrates the model’s potential for personalized and ethical testing.

AlveoliX, known for its award-winning Lung-on-Chip technology, has reached a new milestone with the publication of a study in Bioengineering & Translational Medicine. Conducted in collaboration with Vitrocell Systems, the University of Bern and the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), the study validates the potential of AlveoliX’s Lung-on-Chip model as a precise tool for studying respiratory diseases and testing treatments.

The study, titled “A stretchable human lung-on-chip model of alveolar inflammation for evaluating anti-inflammatory drug response,” demonstrates how AlveoliX’s Lung-on-Chip technology mimics the microenvironment of the human alveoli, closely simulating both respiratory dynamics and inflammatory disease conditions. This innovative model supports the study of complex respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and provides a more predictive approach to drug screening and toxicity testing.

The Lung-on-Chip system uses patient-derived cells, allowing researchers to evaluate personalized treatment responses and bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical research. The AlveoliX model also reduces the need for animal testing, in line with the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) principle for more ethical and accurate research methods.

Pushing the boundaries of preclinical testing

The success of the study highlights the strength of AlveoliX’s collaborative approach, supported by the Eurostars AIM-4-Doc grant. Bringing together industry partners AlveoliX and Vitrocell Systems with academic expertise from the University of Bern and HIPS, the collaboration is advancing the application of organ-on-chip technology in drug development, inhalation exposure testing and broader toxicological assessments.

AlveoliX, a previous recipient of the Swiss Medtech Award for its Lung-on-Chip innovation, continues to push the boundaries in preclinical testing. The company’s work aims to establish a new standard in respiratory research, with potential applications extending to environmental studies and safety evaluations for chemicals, pesticides, and cosmetics.