Customized Intestine-on-a-Chip Models

Organ-on-a-chip technology is an emerging approach receiving considerable attention in the field of intestinal in vitro research. In general, organ-on-chip models are microfluidic devices. Specific organs can be mimicked by culturing relevant cell types in the device, which is designed to allow control over parameters such as concentration gradients, mechanical forces, cell interactions, and tissue morphology. A gut chip based on Caco-2 cells, a duodenum-intestinal chip, a colon-intestinal chip, and a jejunum-intestinal chip have been produced. The constantly evolving organ-on-chip technology therefore provides an opportunity for studying the multiple aspects at play in the development and progression of intestinal inflammatory conditions.

Fig. 1. Cell- vs. tissue-based intestine-on-a-chip models. (Donkers et al., 2021)

Our Intestine-on-a-Chip Models

Ace Therapeutics builds accurate and reliable intestine-on-a-chip models to help clients study mechanisms of colonic inflammation and immune cell recruitment, as well as to discover novel and targeted drug candidates.

We co-culture intestinal organoids with endothelial cells and stimulate them with continuous fluid shear to form intestinal villi and dense barrier structures. This model can better mimic the human IBD pathology and integrate multiple microenvironmental factors such as microbes, physical and chemical factors, and fluid shear.

Chip Structure and Features

• The upper and lower flow channels are separated by a porous membrane, and intestinal organs and endothelial cells are cultured in the upper and lower layers of the membrane to simulate the barrier structure.
• Standard interface serial peristaltic pump provides medium and fluid stimulation to promote the growth and differentiation of intestinal organs good biocompatibility and light transmission to avoid small molecule adsorption.

In Vitro Assays in Intestine-on-a-Chip Models

Our intestine-on-a-chip models support drug-drug interaction studies, drug evaluation, barrier function evaluation, enterotoxicity studies, and intestinal flora studies.

We provide a full range of technical support, including model design, experiment execution, data analysis and result interpretation, to help clients maximize the experimental effect and application of results.

• Cellular dynamics monitoring:Monitor cells and tissues in situ in intestine-on-a-chip models using high-resolution visualization techniques such as confocal laser scanning microscopy and phase contrast microscopy.
• Immunofluorescent analysis:Perform fluorescent and immunofluorescent staining of cells to provide critical information on cell viability and cellular functions.
• Omic analysis:Obtain cellular signatures by omics approaches such as genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics from microchannels.
• Transcriptomic mapping of cells: Perform genetic and transcriptomic mapping of cells and tissues using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay.
• Barrier integrity assays: We provide qualitative methods such as fluorescence immunostaining of tight junctions or quantitative ones such as permeability assessments by injection of fluorescent-labeled molecules or transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements.

Ace Therapeutics' customized intestine-on-a-chip models allow us to help clients conduct IBD-related research more efficiently, accelerating the drug development process while reducing reliance on animal testing and improving the biological and clinical relevance of their studies. Please contact us to learn more.