Tuning the features of microphysiological systems for biomimetic intestinal in vitro models

The intestinal epithelium, which consists mostly of an enterocytic monolayer, forms a physical barrier that is pivotal in the molecular absorption process. Despite the need for complex intestinal in vitro models to carry out predictive and reliable pharmacological investigations, cell cultures are mainly performed using standard culture systems in which cells are cultured on membranes in static conditions, thus failing in replicating the micro-physiological environment. We developed a modular bicompartmental versatile culture system, named True Tissue on Platform (TTOP) which allows to host tunable culture substrates, such as microporous membranes or scaffolds. After the biological validation with intestinal epithelial cells, we focused on the substrate's characteristics, by comparing different scaffolds and coatings, to obtain a biomimetic intestinal in vitro model. The results suggest that gelatin based substrates promote proliferation and better support colonization.