Mimicking the dynamic Colonic microbiota in vitro to gain a better understanding on the in vivo metabolism of xenobiotics: degradation of Sulfasalazine.

Due to the potential effects of colonic metabolism, the interest in the composition and action of intestinal microbiota has increased significantly throughout the last 10 years. Recently focus is turning to the development and implementation of in vitro tools closely simulating in vivo colonic metabolic processes suitable for routine use. The aim of the present study is to compare the metabolization of the model drug sulfasalazine utilizing the novel dynamic bioreactor "MimiCol" and a standard static batch fermenter inoculated with cryopreserved faecal microbiota. Major advantages of the novel bioreactor "MimiCol" are the smaller media volume which is closer to in vivo conditions, the possibility to perform media changes and the closer simulation of in vivo mixing patterns. The study proved that the "MimiCol" is able to simulate the dynamic conditions found within the Colon ascendens. The dynamic conditions within the "MimiCol" led to an almost 2-fold increase of the metabolization rate constant in comparison to the static batch fermenter. Our study was able to prove that the novel dynamic bioreactor "MimiCol" is able to closely simulate physiologically relevant conditions.