Intestinal organoid platform for studying monosaccharides and amino acids cotransport

Overview

The intestinal organoid platform developed by Iowa State University provides a groundbreaking method for studying the absorption of monosaccharides and amino acids. By mimicking the in vivo intestinal epithelium, this solution enables researchers to gain insights into intracellular metabolic shifts and protein level alterations. The platform is designed as a cost-effective, high-throughput tool for identifying key monosaccharides and amino acids responsible for absorption changes and rehydration effects, making it an invaluable asset for new mechanism discovery and rehydration product development.

Technical specifications

• Utilizes intestinal organoids derived from single intestinal stem cells, capable of self-organizing into structures that resemble natural gut tissue.
• The organoids encompass all epithelial cell types found in the intestine, including enterocytes, Paneth cells, goblet cells, and enteroendocrine cells.
• Organoids can be maintained in culture for over 1.5 years, with weekly passaging.
• Experimental setup includes the use of a FemtoJet microinjector for administering substances and advanced imaging techniques such as confocal fluorescence microscopy and Raman Spectromicroscopy for tracking absorption.
• Quantitative analysis involves RNA isolation, qPCR, and gene expression studies.

Technology readiness level

This platform is at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4, indicating that it has been validated in a laboratory environment. Future validation efforts will include correlating in vivo and in vitro rehydration effects using both mouse and human-derived intestinal organoids, further enhancing its applicability in real-world settings.