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The TNO InTESTine™ system is developed to study the absorption and translocation of pharmaceutical, biological and nutritional compounds across the intestinal wall in a physiologically relevant model. In this medium-throughput system, fresh ex vivo intestinal tissue from human or animal origin is mounted into a two compartment model with an apical and basolateral side. In order to study regional differences in absorption, tissue from different intestinal regions (duodenum, jejunum, ileum & colon) can be tested in parallel under controlled conditions.

TNO’s intestinal screening model (TNO i-screen) helps to quickly identify pharmacological compounds that are metabolized by intestinal microbiota. For pharmaceutical companies, searching for novel pharmaceuticals is a complex and time-consuming process. When a novel drug has been selected, extensive in vitro and clinical studies are required to demonstrate its metabolism, safety and efficacy prior to releasing it to the market. Increasing evidence has shown that gut microbiota are involved in the metabolic transformation of many drugs, influencing drug pharmacokinetics and thus, efficacy and safety profiles.