Bioartificial Lungs: A Promising Alternative to Traditional Organ Transplantation

Abstract

End-stage lung disease remains a major clinical challenge due to donor shortage and chronic rejection after transplantation. Bioartificial lung engineering using patient-derived cells offers a promising alternative by enabling the creation of functional three-dimensional tissues capable of gas exchange. Preclinical studies have demonstrated successful implantation in animal models; however, key challenges remain, including scaffold optimization, vascularization, and functional maturation to ensure long-term in vivo performance. The development of personalized lung grafts represents a critical step toward clinically translatable therapies, as well as advanced platforms for airway reconstruction and disease modeling.