Extracellular Matrix–derived Inhalation Therapy for Prevention and Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis
This technology harnesses extracellular matrix (ECM)–derived particles or solubilized material isolated from decellularized porcine tissues such as urinary bladder basement membrane, trachea, lung, small intestinal submucosa or dermis. These materials are milled to precise particle sizes (down to 5 µm), or enzymatically digested, then sterilized (gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide or peracetic acid), optionally cross-linked and blended with standard excipients into a dry powder or aerosol. Delivered via metered‐dose inhalers, unit‐dose dry powder devices or intratracheal instillation, the ECM scaffold promotes airway epithelial cell chemotaxis and re-epithelialization when administered before or after exposure to fibrogenic insults (bleomycin, silica, asbestos, radiation or drug‐induced injury), leading to reduced collagen deposition and attenuated pulmonary fibrosis in murine models.
Description
What sets this approach apart is its application of ECM scaffolds directly to the respiratory tract, exploiting the innate regenerative signals of basement membrane and lamina propria components. Unlike conventional anti‐fibrotic drugs, it leverages decellularized xenogeneic tissues processed to preserve bioactive cues and tailored particle sizes for optimal lung deposition. Versatile formulation options and robust sterilization methods ensure safety and reproducibility, while demonstrated efficacy in both preventive and therapeutic settings highlights its unique capability to restore epithelial integrity and counteract fibrotic remodeling.Applications
- Pulmonary fibrosis inhalation therapy- Drug-induced fibrosis prevention aerosol
- Radiation-induced lung fibrosis treatment
- Asbestosis prophylactic inhaler
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis inhaler
Advantages
- Promotes airway epithelial chemotaxis and re-epithelialization, reducing collagen deposition and fibrotic remodeling- Prevents and treats pulmonary fibrosis caused by chemical, radiation, or drug-induced lung injury
- Enables non-invasive, targeted delivery to the lungs via inhalers, dry powder devices, or intratracheal instillation
- High biocompatibility and minimal immunogenicity through decellularized xenogeneic ECM scaffolds
- Flexible dry powder or solubilized formulations allow precise dosing and customizable administration
- Demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models, indicating strong translational and clinical potential