Bioelectronic Technology for Nutritional Research—a Novel In Vitro Platform for a Better Understanding of Human Gut Barrier Absorption

The epithelial gut barrier and gut microbiota significantly contribute to human health by controlling molecule absorption, a regulated transport that dictates bioavailability. Effective public health strategies, like dietary reference values, require a complete understanding of nutrient absorption. However, the lack of internationally harmonized nutritional recommendations indicates that gut barrier mechanisms are not fully unraveled. The conventional in vitro model Caco‐2/HT29‐MTX cultured on cell culture inserts, established for drug development, is limited in representing complex human gut physiology. The new bioelectronic e‐transmembrane platform leverages technological and biological advances to generate more meaningful in vitro predictions. The soft electroactive Poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) scaffold enables direct cell‐electrode coupling for more sensitive barrier impedance measurements, especially required for testing commonly low physiological nutrient concentrations. Promoted epithelial‐fibroblast interactions result in modulated protein signal transduction and expression of genes regulating gut barrier integrity. Overall, the e‐transmembrane gut barrier more closely mimicked physiological effects for humans as demonstrated using the dietary compound butyrate.