Artificial in vitro digestive system

Artificial in vitro digestive system
AINIA has developed an artificial in vitro digestive system. This equipment mimicks the environment and behaviour of the human gastrointestinal tract, and contributes to a better understanding of the food digestion process and the associated nutrient release. In combination with cell models, the system provides reliable information on nutrient absorption phenomena, and it is a rapid and cost-effective method in comparison to animal or human trials. This equipment is especially useful when designing improvements in production processes, as well as during the development of innovative food products, since it allows for a rapid and cost-effective screening of multiple alternatives. The most advanced model includes 4 glass compartments simulating stomach and the three regions of the small intestine, which are connected by computer-controlled valves and pumps. Main digestion parameters, such as pH, temperature, peristaltic mixing and transit, gastric emptying speed, gastro-intestinal secretions release and absorption of small molecules can be completely regulated. Moreover, sampling is possible at various stages during the process, making it possible to gather real time information. The model enables research on nutritional and functional aspects on single or combined compounds as well as in complete meal matrices during passage through the upper gastro-intestinal tract under strictly controlled human conditions. A wide range of physical-chemical properties of formulations can be investigated in the model, including coating stability, solubility, release profile, nutrient interactions, resistance against digestive conditions and availability for absorption. This information allows companies to take better decisions on the development of new functional products and to define an optimal set-up for possible clinical trials. Main advantages of this technology are: - Bioavailability estimation of functional ingredients. - Real time sampling at various stages during the digestive process. - Better pre-design of human clinical studies. – Study of the resistance of functional ingredients to gastro-intestinal transit. – Study of the effects of pre-treatments processes on nutrient bioavailability. – Study of possible negative/positive interactions between nutrients. - Supporting decisions on the formulation of new functional products - Opportunity to compare the digestion of different ingested products under identical and standardized controlled conditions.