Abstract

A Miniaturized Intestine-on-Chip with Crypts, Microbes and Mucus

Nancy Allbritton, Frank and Julie Jungers Dean of the College of Engineering and Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington in Seattle

A 3D polarized epithelium using primary human gastrointestinal stem cells recapitulates gastrointestinal epithelial architecture and physiology. The intestine-on-chip supports chemical and oxygen gradients, a stem cell niche, differentiated cell zone, and mucus layer. An anaerobic luminal compartment permits co-culture of anaerobic intestinal bacteria. This in vitro human colon crypt array replicates the architecture, luminal accessibility, tissue polarity, cell migration, cell types and cellular responses of in vivo intestinal crypts. The microdevice possesses one hundred crypts providing exquisite control of the microenvironment for the investigation of organ-level physiology and disease. This bioanalytical platform is envisioned as a next-generation system for assay of microbiome-behavior, drug-delivery, and toxin-interactions with the intestinal epithelia.