@article{6371,
  keywords = {3D colon human model, colorectal cancer modeling, in vivo mimicking, non-animal model},
  author = {Jorge Alfonso Tavares-Negrete and Sahar Najafikoshnoo and Anita Ghandehari and Mozhgan Keshavarz and Quinton Smith and Armand Ahmetaj and Steven Zanganeh and Rahim Esfandyarpour},
  title = {Development of a 3D Human Colon Model Along with Bioelectronics for the Induction and Monitoring of Diseases},
  abstract = {Conventional in vitro and animal models do not reproduce the geometry, mechanics, or transport physics of the human colon, limiting their fidelity for disease studies and drug screening. A patient-derived, freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels bioprinted three-dimensional (3D) in vivo mimicking human-colon model (3D-IVM-HC) is reported whose micro-computed tomography (CT) profile deviates by less than 4% from the original computed tomography template and spontaneously forms crypt-like invaginations with a median depth of 65 µm. The dual-layer gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)/alginate matrix matches native colonic stiffness (9–65 kPa) and sustains >95% cell viability with a 14-fold metabolic increase over 14 days. Caco-2 epithelia polarize within the lumen, form continuous Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) belts, and reach a transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of 68 ± 4 Ω cm2, values within the human ex vivo range. Finite-element simulations (FEM) parameterized with measured geometry and resistance predict water and nutrient fluxes within 80–99% of human explants. When HCT116 tumor spheroids are introduced, the construct yields a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC5₀) of 540 ± 30 µm, an order of magnitude higher than a matched two-dimensional (2D) monolayer (42 ± 5 µm), mirroring clinical chemoresistance. Together, these benchmarks establish the 3D-IVM-HC as a physiologically faithful, non-animal model for probing colorectal biology and quantifying drug response.},
  journal = {Advanced Science},
  volume = {n/a},
  pages = {e06377},
  issn = {2198-3844},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/advs.202506377},
  doi = {10.1002/advs.202506377},
  language = {en},
}