Bioengineering approaches to simulate human colon microbiome ecosystem

Several diseases associated to colon microbial imbalance (dysbiosis), such as obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer, are being reverted by modulation of gut microbiota composition through treatment with prebiotics probiotics. Multiple in vitro models have been developed over the past three decades, several experimental configurations, they provide a quick, easy, cost-effective approach study microbiome, compared troublesome time-consuming vivo studies. This review aims an overview most relevant available used mimic human microbiome dynamics, including macro-scale microfluidic-based models. Main characteristics, functionalities, current applications advantages or disadvantages discussed order useful information for end users (namely food pharmaceutical researchers), when selecting appropriated model assessing health claims safety novel functional drugs. Finally, use these tool prebiotic probiotic response host-microbiota interaction is reviewed. A wide range representing specific parts developed. However, none can simultaneously cover all key conditions found anatomical, physical, biochemical, biological characteristics), well complex microbiome-host interaction. Thus, there significant opportunity further improvement models’ setups towards more realistic operating systems, mucosal surfaces, intestinal cells tissues allowing microbiome–host crosstalk representation.