Trisha Vikranth ( Three Minute Thesis )
School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering
Engineering transplantable lung patches to seal post-surgical air leaks
Lung surgeries as a treatment for tumour removal are associated with patients developing post-surgical complications that are a source of morbidity and mortality concerns amongst thoracic surgeons , challenging patient recovery and success in clinical outcomes . The escape of air from the lungs into the thoracic cavity affects normal breathing in patients . The gold standard approach to dealing with air leaks require chest tube insertions that allow release of the escaped air to prevent lung damage and laboured breathing . However , persistent air leaks ( PAL ) result in patients developing lung infections and chest pain because of prolonged chest tube drainage . Our focus is on engineering transplantable patches that seals the compromised lung membrane during surgery . The study aims to recapitulate the structural and functional dynamics of normal lung tissue , in the engineered lung patches to function as tissue substitutes that reduce risks of PALs and immune intolerance in the patients when transplanted .
Postgraduate Conference 2020 Page 46