TY - JOUR
T1 - An In vitro Caco2-Based Model for Measuring Intestinal Bioadhesion Comparable to Ex vivo Models
AU - Drori, Eliyahu
AU - Rahamim, Valeria
AU - Patel, Dhaval
AU - Anker, Yamm
AU - Meir, Sivan
AU - Uzan, Gal
AU - Somech, Shira
AU - Drori, Chen
AU - Tzadok, Tal
AU - Azagury, Aharon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Small Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - This study presents an in vitro model using Caco-2 cells that can mimic the bioadhesion properties of the human intestinal epithelium, aiming to reduce the use of animal tissues, in line with the 3Rs principle—replacement, reduction, and refinement. Specifically, a texture analyzer was used to assess the bioadhesive strength of hydrogels (i.e., alginate (Alg), chitosan (Chit), and gelatin (Gel)) under various applied forces (20–200 mN) and contact times (120–420 s). The results demonstrate that the in vitro model effectively predicts the bioadhesive strength of the tested hydrogels to ex vivo tissues (i.e., from mice, sheep, and pigs), including the effects of applied force and contact time. Also provided is an analysis of the effect of microvilli morphology on bioadhesion where an inverse relationship was observed between microvilli linear density and bioadhesion strength, explaining the variability in results across animal models. This Caco-2-based model offers a practical, accessible, and cost-effective alternative to current ex vivo methods used for measuring bioadhesion fracture strength. It can be integrated into standardized testing protocols, providing a more ethical and scientifically robust approach to advancing bioadhesive drug delivery system research.
AB - This study presents an in vitro model using Caco-2 cells that can mimic the bioadhesion properties of the human intestinal epithelium, aiming to reduce the use of animal tissues, in line with the 3Rs principle—replacement, reduction, and refinement. Specifically, a texture analyzer was used to assess the bioadhesive strength of hydrogels (i.e., alginate (Alg), chitosan (Chit), and gelatin (Gel)) under various applied forces (20–200 mN) and contact times (120–420 s). The results demonstrate that the in vitro model effectively predicts the bioadhesive strength of the tested hydrogels to ex vivo tissues (i.e., from mice, sheep, and pigs), including the effects of applied force and contact time. Also provided is an analysis of the effect of microvilli morphology on bioadhesion where an inverse relationship was observed between microvilli linear density and bioadhesion strength, explaining the variability in results across animal models. This Caco-2-based model offers a practical, accessible, and cost-effective alternative to current ex vivo methods used for measuring bioadhesion fracture strength. It can be integrated into standardized testing protocols, providing a more ethical and scientifically robust approach to advancing bioadhesive drug delivery system research.
KW - alginate
KW - bioadhesion
KW - Caco-2 cells
KW - chitosan
KW - ex vivo in vitro models
KW - gelatin
KW - oral drug delivery systems
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211178632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/smsc.202400461
DO - 10.1002/smsc.202400461
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AN - SCOPUS:85211178632
SN - 2688-4046
JO - Small Science
JF - Small Science
ER -