Journal article
Recapitulating apicobasal tissue polarity in extracellular matrix-incorporated airway organoids
Biomaterials, Vol.331, 124084
08/2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2026.124084
PMID: 41722465
Abstract
The airway epithelium is a dynamic barrier that interfaces with the external environment and internal matrix along its apicobasal axis. To recapitulate this spatial organization and associated cell-ECM interactions in an organoid format, we present the decellularized extracellular matrix-incorporated Apical-out Airway Organoid (dECM-AoAO), which integrates basolateral matrix cues through the incorporation of human lung dECM microparticles (dECM-MPs), while maintaining direct apical exposure to the exterior. Compared to ECM-free AoAOs, dECM incorporation diversifies lineage distribution, more closely recapitulating native epithelial composition and responsiveness to pathogenic stimulation. Harnessing dECM-AoAO locomotion driven by outward-facing ciliary beating, we developed an experimental and computational pipeline for batch analysis of organoid motility as a functional readout of ciliary activity. Furthermore, dECM-AoAOs are compatible with cryopreservation, retaining viability, lineage composition, and ciliary function upon revival. Together, this work establishes the dECM-AoAO as a physiologically relevant model system for investigating epithelial-ECM crosstalk during airway homeostasis, pathogenesis, and injury responses.
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Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Recapitulating apicobasal tissue polarity in extracellular matrix-incorporated airway organoids
- Creators
- Zhuowei Gong - Carnegie Mellon UniversityDhruv Bhattaram - Carnegie Mellon UniversityLaura Porritt - University of VermontKian Golestan - Carnegie Mellon UniversityAmir Barati Farimani - Carnegie Mellon UniversityBin Deng - University of VermontAmy L. Ryan - University of IowaDaniel J. Weiss - University of VermontXi Ren - Carnegie Mellon University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biomaterials, Vol.331, 124084
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2026.124084
- PMID
- 41722465
- NLM abbreviation
- Biomaterials
- ISSN
- 0142-9612
- eISSN
- 1878-5905
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- National Institutes of Health: 1R21HL175617-01, F31HL176100-01, P20GM103449 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Ren25G0 Department of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University
This research was supported by National Institutes of Health grants 1R21HL175617-01 (DJW and XR) and F31HL176100-01 (DB) , by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation grant Ren25G0 (XR) , and by the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (XR) . VBRN Proteomics Facility is supported through the National Institutes of Health grant P20GM103449. We acknowledge the use of BioShare fa-cilities (1f3eb03) and staff support, thank the Center for Biologic Im-aging at the University of Pittsburgh for imaging support, and thank Dr. Hongmei Mou (Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School) for providing the 804G cell line used in this study. All schematic figures were created with BioRender.com .
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2026
- Academic Unit
- Anatomy and Cell Biology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985139316702771
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