DOUBLE TUBULAR STRUCTURES Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC C12N5/71 

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a method for cultivating epithelial cells using a system of microfluidic cell cultivation containing a network of microfluidic channels. The method includes following stages: a) mesenchymal cells are introduced into the network of microfluidic channels a1) using an aqueous medium; or a2) using a hydrogel precursor, while the hydrogel precursor is allowed to solidify in the network of microfluidic channels, thus occupying at least part of the network of microfluidic channels; b) in the case of stage a1) and preferably in the case of stage a2), mesenchymal cells are allowed to proliferate and/or differentiate, preferably until at least part of the network of microfluidic channels is covered with mesenchymal cells; c) epithelial cells are introduced into the network of microfluidic channels containing mesenchymal cells; and d) epithelial cells are allowed to proliferate and/or differentiate, preferably until at least part of the network of microfluidic channels is covered with epithelial cells and/or until at least part of mesenchymal cells is covered with epithelial cells. The use of cells in the system of microfluidic cell cultivation is proposed to evaluate transport through an epithelial barrier, toxicity studies, joint culture with the microbiome, food assimilation studies, inflammation studies, implementation of disease models such as inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, COPD, asthma, cancer, for mechanistic studies of epithelial function in normal and pathological conditions. A system of microfluidic cell cultivation with a network of microfluidic channels containing an inner group of cells and an outer group of cells is proposed. The inner group of cells is at least partially covered by the specified outer group of cells. Cells of the inner group are epithelial cells, and cells of the outer group are mesenchymal cells. Preferably, the inner group of cells and the outer group of cells interact or are in direct contact. The system of microfluidic cell cultivation contains the network of microfluidic channels containing mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells obtained by cultivating epithelial cells. The system of microfluidic cell cultivation contains the network of microfluidic channels containing mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells. Mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells form a tubular structure.

EFFECT: invention makes it possible to improve epithelial models suitable for a wide range of applications, including, among other things, high-performance screening and analysis of the epithelium in normal and pathological conditions.

35 cl, 30 dwg, 2 ex