In the course of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COEP), the increasingly finely branched structures of the lungs are destroyed, starting with the smallest alveoli, from which normally the inhaled oxygen enters the bloodstream. Depending on the severity of the disease, it can fatally end if the patients suffocate because the oxygen is no longer absorbed into the body in sufficient quantity. In Germany, it is estimated that seven million people are affected by COPD. So far, it is not possible to restore the destroyed tissue.

The team of scientists wants to test substances for their ability to regenerate the lung tissue. With the help of professor Claus-Michael Lehr, head of the department of drug transport at Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, the test substances will be transported as precisely as possible to their target site in the lungs in order to stimulate regeneration there. Professor Lehr is working on in vitro models of epithelial barriers and modern drug delivery systems ("nanopharmaceuticals"). Professor Bals is working on the use of stem cells to to stimulate the regeneration of lung tissue.

The project of the physicians and pharmacists is supported by the "Research for Life" Foundation for two years.

Source:
https://www.uni-saarland.de/universitaet/aktuell/artikel/nr/20927.html
https://f-leben.de/132-2/