Summary
Published in Advanced Science (2025), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Chen, Yong, et al. Engineering Extracellular Vesicles Derived from 3D Cultivation of BMSCs Enriched with HGF Ameliorate Sepsis‐Induced Lung Epithelial Barrier Damage
Engineering Extracellular Vesicles Derived from 3D Cultivation of BMSCs Enriched with HGF Ameliorate Sepsis‐Induced Lung Epithelial Barrier Damage
Research Overview
Sepsis often progresses to acute lung injury through uncontrolled inflammation and alveolar epithelial damage. Extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells can transfer protective RNAs and proteins, but low efficacy and yield have limited clinical use. To improve both, this study generated 3D-cultured MSCs using the MicroTissues 3D Petri Dish® and harvested their vesicles.
The 3D-cultured cells better protected and supported proliferation of MLE-12 alveolar cells in vitro, and their vesicles were tested mechanistically in a septic acute-lung-injury model. Proteomic and molecular analyses showed the 3D-derived vesicles were enriched in hepatocyte growth factor, which helps maintain the barrier function of damaged alveolar epithelium.
Key Discoveries
- MSCs cultured in 3D with the MicroTissues 3D Petri Dish® yielded more effective extracellular vesicles
- 3D-MSCs improved protection and proliferation of MLE-12 alveolar epithelial cells
- 3D-derived vesicles were enriched in hepatocyte growth factor, supporting alveolar barrier function in septic lung injury
