Intestine-On-A-Chip Model Development Service

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Background Typical Model Advanced Model Services Features Published Data Q&As Resources

By combining microfluidic technology with tissue engineering, Creative Biolabs now provides in vitro intestine-on-a-chip model to help you better explore the physiology and pathology of the gut and develop more personalized research strategies.

Microenvironment and Key Features of Intestine

The intestinal epithelium is one of the most frequently renewed tissues in humans. The small intestinal epithelium consists of a typical crypt-villus shaft and is covered by a single layer of enterocytes. The intestinal epithelial region contains more than 90% absorptive cells, with the remainder consisting of goblet cells, tuft cells, Paneth cells, and enteroendocrine cells, which regulate metabolism, control appetite, manage intestinal motility, and coordinate mucosal immunity. In addition, the gut is also a major site of interactions between the intestinal epithelium, commensal microbiota, immune cells, and vascular endothelial cells, whose complex and dynamic interactions cannot be ignored in in vitro modeling. Therefore, it is crucial to integrate vascular endothelial cells into intestinal models to improve the accuracy of in vitro studies.

Fig. 1 The microenvironmental characteristics of the gut are the key to building a gut-on-a-chip.^1,4

Typical Intestine Chip Model

By implanting the intestinal epithelial cell line into the chip model, we launched a simple but practical transwell chip. By using engineering models to complement the deficiencies of biological technology, we provide a new method for simulating the anatomy, mechanics and biological characteristics of the human intestinal tract. In addition, we also introduced a parallel microchannel chip separated by a PDMS porous membrane. This simplified model simulates the physiological structure of the living human intestine in the presence of intestinal epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells/immune cells. Porous membranes also separate commensal microorganisms from intestinal cell lines, enabling long-term and stable co-culture. Our chips are capable of exploring functions such as intestinal digestion, barrier integrity, immune regulation, and drug metabolism, and host-microbe crosstalk can also be simulated under co-culture conditions with the microbiome.

Fig. 2 A two-channel intestine-on-a-chip model as the most practical chip design.^2,4

Advanced Intestine Chip Model

The composition of the intestinal epithelial cell lineage, intestinal vascular barrier, host-microbial symbiosis, mucosal immunity, and continuous mechanical stimulation are all key factors in the physiological and pathological conditions of the intestinal tract. These features are critical for modeling the living human gut on a chip, and these complex interactions make it difficult to stimulate all of them using a single structural design. More complex customized microfluidic intestinal models can reproduce physiologically relevant fluid flow and peristaltic-like mechanical deformation in vitro while satisfying cell growth, coexistence and interaction. Through the unique structural design, the microfluidic chip can also control and evaluate the intraluminal hypoxic gradient in the chip, allowing long-term stable co-culture of human gut microbiota.

Fig. 3 Chip designs with diverse experimental needs. Fig. 3 Chip designs with more diverse experimental needs.^2,4

Our Services

Compared with commonly used in vitro culture systems, microfluidic intestinal chips can simulate the structure, function, physiological and pathological characteristics of living bodies more similarly, and provide precise and independent control for multiple biological, molecular, cellular, and mechanical parameters. Our simplified but practical intestine-on-a-chip model can accurately reproduce the physiological structure of the human gut, greatly reducing experimental time and cost, and enabling high-throughput and rapid drug research and co-culture experiments. The customized advanced intestinal chip will provide a powerful new method for the research of intestinal diseases and the construction of in vitro models. No matter what kind of testing you need, Creative Biolabs’ well-trained R&D team will provide you with a reasonable design or a suitable intestine-on-a-chip model, so don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

Features and Benefits

Realistic Intestinal Microenvironment

Intestine-On-A-Chip models replicate the complex architecture and functionality of the human intestine. This provides a more accurate and physiologically relevant environment for studying intestinal biology, disease mechanisms, and drug interactions compared to traditional cell cultures.

Integration with Microbiota

Intestine-On-A-Chip models can incorporate microbiota, allowing researchers to study gut-microbe interactions in a controlled environment. This provides insights into the role of microbiota in health and disease and their impact on drug efficacy and metabolism.

Versatile Application Range

These models are suitable for a wide range of applications, including studying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, drug absorption, and nutrient metabolism. This versatility makes them invaluable tools for various aspects of gastrointestinal research.

Physiologically Relevant Flow Conditions

Intestine-On-A-Chip models mimic the natural flow conditions and peristalsis of the gut. This creates a more realistic environment for studying intestinal responses and drug interactions under physiological conditions.

Multi-Organ Integration

Intestine-On-A-Chip can be integrated with other organ-on-a-chip systems to study inter-organ interactions, such as the gut-liver axis. This holistic approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of physiological processes and disease mechanisms.

Published Data

The findings discussed in the articles related to intestine-on-a-chip model are presented.

1. Intestine-on-a-chip for exploring the transport mechanism of Hg(II)

Fig. 4 Characteristics of the intestinal epithelium in the intestine-on-a-chip.^3,4

Animal models and static cultures of intestinal epithelial cells commonly employed to investigate mercury ion transport have constraints and fail to accurately mimic the human intestinal microenvironment or observe cellular physiology in real time. In their research, Li Wang et al. introduced an intestinal chip featuring integrated label-free sensors designed to dynamically mimic the physical intestinal barrier and facilitate in situ tracking of Hg(II) transport and absorption.^3,4 The primary characteristics of the intestine, such as the intestinal barrier and villus structure, were validated through TEER measurements and immunohistochemical analysis. The cellular microenvironment was reconstructed and modeled by applying mechanical strain in cycles and fluid shear stress. The findings indicated that the absorption rate of Hg(II) in this intestinal chip closely matched the levels observed in the in vivo intestinal absorption. As mechanical stimulation increased, there was a corresponding rise in the absorption of Hg(II).

References

Marrero, Vila, et al. " Gut-on-a-chip: Mimicking and monitoring the human intestine." Biosensors and Bioelectronics 181 (2021): 113156.
Thomas, Zhang, et al. " Microfluidic Gut-on-a-Chip: Fundamentals and Challenges." Biosensors13.1 (2023): 136.
Wang, Li, et al. "Gut-on-a-chip for exploring the transport mechanism of Hg (II)." Microsystems & Nanoengineering 9.1 (2023): 2.
Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.

Q&As

Q: How does Intestine-On-A-Chip technology work?

A: Intestine-On-A-Chip technology uses microfluidic chambers lined with human intestinal cells to mimic the structure and function of the gut. The system replicates physiological processes such as peristalsis, nutrient absorption, and microbial interactions, enabling detailed studies of intestinal biology.

Q: What types of cells can be used in Intestine-On-A-Chip models?

A: Various cell types can be used, including primary intestinal epithelial cells, stem cell-derived enterocytes, and co-cultures with immune cells or microbiota. This flexibility allows for the creation of complex, physiologically relevant models tailored to specific research need.

Q: What are the main applications of Intestine-On-A-Chip models?

A: Applications include studying intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease, investigating drug absorption and metabolism, evaluating the effects of probiotics and microbiota, and modeling gut-microbe interactions. These models are valuable for both basic research and drug development.

Q: How is data from Intestine-On-A-Chip models analyzed?

A: Data analysis involves monitoring intestinal functions through imaging, biochemical assays, and molecular techniques. Advanced bioinformatics tools are used to interpret the data, providing insights into cellular behavior, drug effects, and disease mechanisms in the gut.

Q: Can Intestine-On-A-Chip models be customized for specific research needs?

A: Yes, Intestine-On-A-Chip models can be customized to include different cell types, simulate various physiological conditions, and incorporate specific microbial communities. This customization ensures that the models are highly relevant to the particular scientific questions being addressed.