This technology is a regional lung regeneration method that recovers rejected donor organs for transplantation using localized decellularization and cellular repopulation.
Lung transplantation is the only definitive treatment for end-stage lung disease, yet only one in four candidates receives a transplant due to severe organ shortage. Many donor lungs are rejected for transplantation despite being structurally intact because they fail to meet quality functional standards. Current organ preservation methods can keep donor lungs viable during transport but cannot restore function to rejected organs. Previous attempts to regenerate entire lungs have damaged critical blood vessels and required large quantities of cells. A method to recover rejected donor lungs would significantly expand the available organ supply for patients waiting for life-saving transplants.
This technology employs a dual-perfusion approach to selectively decellularize limited regions of rejected donor lungs while preserving the integrity of the vascular system. A decellularizing solution is perfused through specific airways to remove cellular material from targeted lung segments, while simultaneously perfusing a preservation solution through the pulmonary artery and vein to protect the blood vessels. The decellularized regions retain their structure and extracellular matrix composition, providing a scaffold for repopulation with recipient-derived pulmonary cells. A specialized dual-cannula device enables the precise delivery and removal of decellularization reagents to targeted lung regions, ensuring the complete removal of donor cells while preserving surrounding tissue.
This technology has been validated in human donor lungs rejected for transplantation.
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Ph.D.
Patent Issued (US 9,888,680)
IR CU13138, CU19143
Licensing Contact: Cindy Lang