Probing the luminal microenvironment of reconstituted epithelial microtissues
Alec E Cerchiari1,2,3, Karen E Samy1,2, Michael E Todhunter3
1UC Berkeley - UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley - Berkeley (CA), USA.
Scientific Reports
|September 14, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to incorporate polymeric microparticles into human intestinal microtissues for in vitro studies. This technique enables the development of novel pH-sensitive microsensors for investigating tissue environments and drug delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Polymeric microparticles offer potential as carriers and sensors for tissue biology applications.
- Incorporating microparticles into engineered tissues for in vitro analysis presents significant technical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for delivering microparticles into the lumen of reconstituted human intestinal microtissues.
- To create a novel pH-sensitive microsensor for measuring the luminal pH within these microtissues.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three-dimensional cell-patterning technologies.
- Employed directed epithelial self-organization for microparticle integration.
- Developed a novel pH-sensitive microsensor system.
Main Results:
- Successfully delivered polymeric microparticles to the lumen of reconstituted human intestinal microtissues.
- Demonstrated the functionality of a novel pH-sensitive microsensor within the microtissue lumen.
- Established a viable platform for studying luminal microenvironments.
Conclusions:
- The developed approach enables effective microparticle incorporation into engineered intestinal tissues.
- The novel microsensor allows for real-time pH monitoring in reconstituted epithelial microtissues.
- This methodology provides a new avenue for investigating luminal microenvironments and epithelial drug delivery.
