Login | Register

Culturing Caco-2 cells on a microfluidic device

Title:

Culturing Caco-2 cells on a microfluidic device

Gagnon, Jenny-Ann (2022) Culturing Caco-2 cells on a microfluidic device. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of Gagnon_MSc_S2022.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
Gagnon_MSc_S2022.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Spectrum Terms of Access.
3MB

Abstract

Organs on a chip is a technology that is often used to mimic the in vivo microenvironment within an organ. In vivo, different forces impact the cell (e.g., peristalsis motion or fluid flow in the intestine), which altogether cause a shear stress that further influences the phenotypical outcome of the cells. With microfluidics, it is possible to mimic these forces to grow the cells in an environment that resembles the in vivo environment. Organs on a chip have the potential to become a valuable tool when it comes to the preclinical evaluation of potential chemotherapeutic agents, thus decreasing the need for animal models. However, the specific conditions for each type of organ on a chip (e.g., brain, liver, intestine) are not uniformly established. Therefore, I tested the effect of different shear stresses on an intestinal epithelium cultured in a microchannel, by varying the rate of perfusion. I found that the ideal shear stress for the integrity of the intestinal epithelium is 0.25 dyn/cm2. I also analyzed the adverse effects of a chemotherapeutic agent, methotrexate, on the intestinal epithelium, by simulating an oral administration of the drug. I determined that methotrexate reduced the levels of the tight junction protein Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) within the tight junction between the epithelial cells. Moreover, I found that holes were forming in the tight junctions and that giant multinucleated cells were appearing following a methotrexate treatment. I hypothesized that the formation of these giant multinucleated cells was due to the fusion of neighbour cells, which could lead to holes in the tight junction, leading to an increase in intestinal permeability.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Biology
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Gagnon, Jenny-Ann
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M. Sc.
Program:Biology
Date:19 September 2022
Thesis Supervisor(s):Shih, Steve
Keywords:Caco-2 cells, intestine, gut, microfluidics, intestine on a chip
ID Code:991162
Deposited By: Jenny-Ann Gagnon
Deposited On:27 Oct 2022 14:11
Last Modified:19 Sep 2024 00:00
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top