# Conformable Device for Independent Measurements of Mucosal and Vascular Barriers in a Complex In Vitro Intestinal Model

## TL;DR

A new conformable device allows independent monitoring of mucosal and vascular barriers in a complex intestinal model.

## Contribution

The novel conformable device enables independent measurement of two cell barriers in a single in vitro model.

## Key findings

- The device successfully monitors epithelial and endothelial barrier resistance changes due to bacterial metabolites and dietary compounds.
- The platform was tested with complex mixtures of bacterial metabolites from individual and community gut bacteria.
- The conformable device outperforms conventional TEER platforms by providing barrier-specific resistance measurements.

## Abstract

Electrochemical approaches for monitoring cell barrier integrity have become important read‐out tools for in vitro models. Conventional commercially available electrochemical devices are however poorly suited for monitoring the more complex and multi‐dimensional models which have recently been developed thanks to advances in tissue engineering. In particular, commercially available devices are typically unable to provide barrier‐by‐barrier resolution in multi‐barrier models. In this study, a gut‐immune‐vasculature model is presented and utilized to investigate the potential for a novel conformable device to independently monitor two cell barriers within the same model‐device platform. The platform, supported by cytokine analysis, is first used to study known bacterial metabolites and dietary compounds, showing changes in epithelial and/or endothelial barrier resistance. The platform is also used to test complex mixtures of bacterial metabolites produced by four intestinal bacteria individually as well as by a community of 25 diverse gut bacteria. The study demonstrates the potential for employing tailored in vitro intestinal models coupled with novel electrochemical device monitoring for host‐microbe interactions studies.

Development of more complex in vitro models necessitates the development of improved monitoring approaches. This work demonstrates a novel conformable device capable of measuring the resistance of two cell barriers within a single model independently, a significant advantage over conventional trans‐epithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) monitoring platforms which only provide bulk measurements.