Understanding the impact of antenatal corticosteroids via placenta and fetal lung microphysiological analysis platform (MAP) on a chip

Abstract

Antenatal corticosteroids are recommended for preterm births to enhance lung maturity; however, the guidelines are based on limited studies. Here, we present a placenta-fetal lung microphysiological analysis platform (MAP) to study how corticosteroids promote fetal lung maturation and determine their optimal concentration with minimal side effects. We create trophoblast-capillary-pneumocyte MAP on chips to analyze the transport of corticosteroids from mother to fetus through the placenta. We assessed surfactant production from the pneumocyte after exposure to different concentrations, types, and durations of corticosteroids in the trophoblast layer. We found the concentrations of corticosteroids over 5 mM reduced trophoblast viability and did not increase the surfactant production from pneumocytes. Our research on placenta-fetal lung MAP provides insight into how corticosteroids improve the production of surfactant from immature pneumocytes as they transition from the placenta and suggests that determining the appropriate dosage of corticosteroids to maximize effectiveness while preventing damage to trophoblasts is crucial.

Keywords: bronchopulmonary dysplasia; fetal lung; microfluidics; organs-on-a-chip; placenta; pneumocyte; preterm birth; respiratory distress syndrome; surfactant; trophoblast.