Particle adhesion in the ex-vivo small intestine and motility
Résumé
The intestinal mucosa is a dynamic interface that not only drives nutrient absorption but also plays a key role in immune surveillance. It features microstructures (villi and Peyer’s patches) covered by a protective mucus layer. It is also mechanically active, potentially generating the transport of particles (drug-delivery systems, bacteria) from the lumen to the mucosal surface. This raises two fundamental questions: Does particle adhesion to mucus depend on intestinal motility? Do the microrheological properties of mucus vary with intestinal motility?