A microfluidic chip based model for the study of full thickness human intestinal tissue using dual flow

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Biomedical Engineering
• Development of advanced organ-on-a-chip technologies for human disease modeling

Background:

• Current inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research relies on animal and cell models, which fail to fully replicate human pathophysiology.
• Limitations in existing models hinder the accurate study of complex diseases like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel dual flow microfluidic device for ex vivo culture of full-thickness human intestinal tissue.
• To establish a more accurate human model for studying IBD biology and therapeutic interventions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a dual flow microfluidic device to perfuse human intestinal tissue ex vivo for up to 72 hours.
• Assessed tissue viability and integrity using Haematoxylin & Eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and lactate dehydrogenase release assays.
• Measured calprotectin levels to confirm the maintenance of an inflammatory state within the tissue.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic device successfully maintained the viability and integrity of human intestinal tissue ex vivo.
• Demonstrated sustained inflammatory markers (calprotectin) in the tissue after perfusion.
• Confirmed tissue structural integrity through histological and biochemical analyses.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic device provides a viable platform for ex vivo human intestinal tissue culture.
• This human-centric model offers a significant advancement for studying inflammatory bowel disease.
• The model is poised to be valuable for investigating disease mechanisms and testing new treatments for IBD.