Development of an Easy-to-Fabricate Micro-Intestine Model for Measuring Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance

Abstract

Micro-intestine models have attracted attention for studies on intestinal absorption and microbiota. In order to create the intestinal model, it is necessary that monolayer-cultured intestinal epithelial model cells form tight junctions between cells, and to confirm this, measurement of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is required. Therefore, we aimed to develop a micro-intestine model for TEER measurement that can be fabricated in a general biochemistry laboratory. We constructed a micro-intestine model by culturing Caco-2 cells as human intestinal epithelial model cells on a microdevice made of polydimethylsiloxane, polyester porous membrane, and platinum wires. The TEER value increased with time as the cells grew, indicating that the developed model is practically useful.