# Miniaturization of the Artificial Placenta for Clinical Application

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $195,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Prematurity is associated with high mortality and long-term morbidity. Over 10 years (supported by
R01HD073475) we have developed an extracorporeal gas exchange system designed specifically to maintain
fetal circulation, allow growth and development without air breathing, and simulate fetal physiology in an Artificial
Placenta (AP). This research has accomplished the following: 1) extensively evaluated gas exchange,
hemodynamics, and fetal circulation in long-term AP experiments; 2) characterized lung injury and development
compared to gestational age-matched fetal lambs and mechanically ventilated (MV) prematurely delivered lamb
controls and identified the best airway maintenance strategy; 3) assessed cerebral oxygenation and perfusion
during AP support and compared AP brains to organ controls using postmortem MRI to assess for hemorrhage,
white matter injury, and development; 4) refined the nitric oxide (NO) / argatroban / NO sweep flow strategy to
eliminate systemic anticoagulation; 5) demonstrated lung development and circulation before transitioning to air
breathing and recovery; and 6) performed functional and histologic studies of brain, lung, heart, spleen, kidney,
and intestine during AP support. Based on all of this work, we now have a reproducible model to optimize
device design, address long-term effects of the artificial placenta, and miniaturize the AP for clinical
application. Based on this work, we have a reproducible model to optimize device design, and scale the
cannulation and device to the size of extreme premature human infants. The goal of this research is to
miniaturize the cannulas and circuit, and evaluate that system in a small animal model which is the size of
extremely premature humans.
As such, the specific aims of this proposal are:
Specific Aim 1: To prepare for clinical application by miniaturizing the cannulas and circuit and develop
servoregulation of the AP system.
Specific Aim 2: To evaluate adequate support and multiorgan structure and function in a premature minisheep
model.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10428747
- **Project number:** 1R21HD108697-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** George Boris Mychaliska
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $195,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-08 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10428747

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10428747, Miniaturization of the Artificial Placenta for Clinical Application (1R21HD108697-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10428747. Licensed CC0.

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