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Breathing 3D Model of Artificial Lung Mimics Soap‑Bubble Physics The problem with existing lung‑on‑a‑chip devices was that cells were cultured on flat surfaces of synthetic PDMS, which does not mimic real tissue, and attempts to make membranes from soft hydrogels caused them to rupture instantly when stretched. Korean researchers solved this by immersing a special mold in a composite hydrogel solution and drawing out an ultrathin, yet elastic and strong film—just as a soap bubble is blown through a straw. Using 3D‑bioprinting, they rebuilt the three‑layer alveolar structure by sequentially depositing a vascular cell layer, a basement membrane, and an epithelial cell layer. To make the construct expand and contract like a real inhale and exhale, the team built a pneumatic drive system that cyclically changes pressure beneath the ultrathin hydrogel membrane, imitating the movement of the human diaphragm. In testing, the artificial lung demonstrated high reliability, operating stably for about 240,000 breath cycles. Experiments with the influenza virus revealed that cellular inflammatory and antiviral responses change dramatically depending on whether the tissue is in motion or remains still. Because the system lets researchers freely set breath depth and frequency, they can now recreate both healthy lung conditions and various pathological processes in the lab, paving the way for more precise drug testing for viral and lung diseases without relying on animal tests or simple flat cell cultures. 🔗 Read original →