Methods relating to intestinal organ-on-a-chip

A method of providing an in vitro intestinal model system, the method comprising:

• a) providing
• i) intestinal endothelial cells,
• ii) an intestinal enteroid or colonoid comprising primary intestinal epithelial cells,
• iii) a microfluidic culture device, the device comprising a porous membrane having a first surface and a second surface, said membrane in fluidic communication with a microchannel, said microchannel in fluidic communication with a source of fluid;
• b) disrupting said intestinal enteroid or colonoid comprising primary intestinal epithelial cells into enteroid or colonoid fragments;
• c) seeding said first surface of said porous membrane with said enteroid or colonoid fragments so as to create seeded primary intestinal epithelial cells;
• d) seeding said second surface of said porous membrane with said intestinal endothelial cells;
• e) expanding said seeded primary intestinal epithelial cells in a first media comprising Wnt-3A so as to create a monolayer of the intestinal epithelial cells;
• f) replacing said first media comprising Wnt-3A and culturing said intestinal epithelial cells with a second media lacking Wnt-3A;
• and
• g) culturing said intestinal endothelial cells in a third media comprising Wnt-3A.