Fig. 2

Lung-on-a-chip system. a An alveolar–capillary barrier was produced on porous flexible PDMS membranes coated with ECM using spaced PDMS microchannels. The device reproduced respiratory motion through a vacuum leading to mechanical stretching and the formation of an alveolar–capillary barrier; b following inhalation, the diaphragm contracts, reducing pleura pressure. The alveolar–capillary interface became stretched due to alveoli tension; c device development: a porous membrane between the upper and lower channels bound irreversibly following plasma exposure; d PDMS moved through the side of the channels and then was removed following vacuum pressure. e Actual images of the device