Biofabricated 3D Intestinal Models as an Alternative to Animal-Based Approaches for Drug Toxicity Assays

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Development
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Accurate prediction of human response in preclinical drug development models remains a significant challenge.
• Current preclinical models often fail to fully replicate the complexity of human physiology.
• There is a need for more predictive and ethically sound in vitro models for drug testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate novel intestinal barrier models for improved drug toxicity assessment.
• To compare the efficacy of biofabricated intestinal models with traditional methods.
• To establish a predictive in vitro platform for drug development.

Main Methods:

• Development of three distinct intestinal barrier models utilizing advanced biofabrication techniques.
• Manual models included Caco-2 and HT-29 cells on collagen or HDFn-laden collagen.
• A 3D bioprinted model incorporating both cellular layers was created and tested.

Main Results:

• All developed models successfully mimicked structural and functional aspects of the intestinal barrier.
• The 3D bioprinted model exhibited superior epithelial barrier integrity, enhanced tight junctions, and increased mucus production.
• The 3D bioprinted model demonstrated a more predictive response to Ibuprofen, highlighting its potential for drug toxicity testing.

Conclusions:

• The 3D bioprinted intestinal model serves as a robust and predictive platform for drug toxicity assessments.
• This advanced in vitro model significantly reduces reliance on animal testing, aligning with ethical protocols.
• The model offers enhanced accuracy in predicting human responses, thereby advancing drug development.