Open AccessGenerating an In Vitro Gut Model with Physiologically Relevant Biophysical Mucus Properties
Author(s) -
Jacob McCright,
Arnav Sinha,
Katharina Maisel
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
cellular and molecular bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1865-5033
pISSN - 1865-5025
DOI - 10.1007/s12195-022-00740-0
Subject(s) - mucus , goblet cell , in vitro , chemistry , ex vivo , biology , epithelium , biochemistry , ecology , genetics
Gastrointestinal (GI) in vitro models have received lasting attention as an effective tool to model drug and nutrient absorption, study GI diseases, and design new drug delivery vehicles. A complete model of the GI epithelium should at a minimum include the two key functional components of the GI tract: mucus and the underlying epithelium. Mucus plays a key role in protecting and lubricating the GI tract, poses a barrier to orally administered therapies and pathogens, and serves as the microenvironment for the GI microbiome. These functions are reliant on the biophysical material properties of the mucus produced, including viscosity and pore size.