A Novel Airway-Organoid Model Based on a Nano-Self-Assembling Peptide: Construction and Application in Adenovirus Infection Studies

The study introduces a novel airway-organoid model using a nano-self-assembling peptide, RADA16-I, to better simulate human lung tissue for adenovirus infection research. This 3D model, constructed with human small airway epithelial cells, lung microvascular endothelial cells, and embryonic lung fibroblasts, overcomes limitations of traditional 2D cultures and animal models by providing a stable, non-immunogenic scaffold for cell growth. The organoids mimic human airway structures, allowing detailed observation of adenovirus infection, including cytopathic effects and viral replication, with viral loads peaking at 9 days post-infection. This model offers a promising platform for studying respiratory virus infections and testing antiviral therapies, although further optimization is needed to model other respiratory viruses and incorporate additional physiological systems.