Upper GI tract

The first compartments of the SHIME^® platform sequentially simulate the stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum, reproducing the spatiotemporal changes of physiological parameters (pH, salt concentrations, residence times, in vivo correlated volumes, enzyme concentrations, bile salt concentrations,…) of the upper gastrointestinal tract, incorporating the parameters defined in the INFOGEST 2.0 method. The simulation can be performed under fasted or fed conditions (in the absence or presence of food, respectively) as it would occur in vivo.

By adapting the parameters, the Upper GT tract simulator can be adjusted to simulate specific population groups like babies children and elderly, specific disease conditions (e.g. pancreatic enzymes deficiency, specific diets and even other species (e.g. cat, dog and pig). When coupled to a short-term colonic simulation, the entire gastrointestinal transit in function of time can be simulated.

The upper GI tract simulation is a reliable, reproducible and validated technology to assess the behaviour and fate of virtually any ingestible test product. This technology can be used to reliably predict the dissolution of capsules and tablets; the release profile of actives from formulations, including targeted delivery or delayed release strategies; drugs and products stability and protection from the harsh environment of the gut and survival and metabolic activity of live biotherapeutics and probiotics. By including a dialysis membrane, the kinetics of digestion of food products, carbohydrates and proteins and the bioaccessibility and bioavailability (absorption) of nutraceuticals, minerals, vitamins, toxins can be studied in detail. Likewise, inclusion of epithelial cell lines allows to study active transport and absorption of actives, nutraceuticals, vitamins, metabolites and drugs from the small intestine.

The detailed insight on the behaviour of test products using Upper GI tract simulations will allow ranking and improvement of products and their formulation in a cost affordable and time efficient manner.

Survival of probiotics and LBPs