UTFacultiesEEMCSDisciplines & departmentsBIOSResearchTheme: Microdevices for Chemical AnalysisMicro-Gut: Unravelling the functional dynamics between the human gut microbiome and intestinal inflammatory responses

Micro-Gut: Unravelling the functional dynamics between the human gut microbiome and intestinal inflammatory responses

The aim of the MICRO-GUT project is to obtain an advanced microbiome-containing immune competent gut-on-a-chip, see Figure below. The chip will allow to study the intimate interactions at a systems level between drugs and food metabolites with the intestinal microbiome. Crucial for a functional gut-on-a-chip, is the maintainance of conditions in the chip compartments. In the upper compartment of the chip, a viable microbial community can be grown under natural anaearobic conditions. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Wageningen University, who will lead the microbiome work and the inflammatory responses.

Schematic illustration of a side view of the gut-on-a-chip showing a porous membrane (M) lined by intestinal epithelial cells. The oxygen level of both compartments will be regulated, mimicking the anaearobic conditions of the intestinal lumen and the aerobic conditions of the blood. In the upper compartment of the chip, mimicking the intestinal lumen, a viable microbial community will be grown under natural anaearobic conditions. Electrodes and sensors (E) are integrated in the chip for TEER measurements and oxygen sensing.

Contact info


Mathieu Odijk Dr. ir.
+31-53-489-4620
 m.odijk@utwente.nl
Elsbeth Bossink
MsC/PhD student