Microfluidic techniques are increasingly recognized as an important toolbox to add physiologically relevant cues to traditional cell culture. These cues include long term gradient stability and continuous perfusion. Microfluidic technology allows patterning of cell layers as stratified co-cultures that are devoid of artificial membranes, to capture complex tissue architectures found in vivo.
Previously, we have introduced the OrganoPlate® platform for growing human intestinal gut tubules in a membrane-free manner which was also suitable for toxicity studies. We now have established a standardized tubular shaped epithelial barrier model of the intestinal tract, compromising adult human stem cell derived intestinal organoids. Organoids are excellent surrogates of patients, capable of taking on the function of the tissue of origin. Combining adult human stem cell derived intestinal organoids with the microfluidic technology serves as a powerful platform to study physiology and disease mechanisms in patient specific gut models. The established model shows rapid cell polarization, tight junction formation and proper expression of intestinal markers.
OrganoPlate- grown miniaturized gut tubules are suitable for development of complex models to mimic in vivo metabolic and immunological responses through co-culture with vessels, immune cells and/or bacteria. These organoid-derived gut tubules are accessible from both apical and basolateral side and are suitable for high-throughput screening of compound effects.
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