ADME/DMPK/Ion Channels

Why Ussing Chambers Matter

Orally administered drugs remain the most common form of therapy, yet predicting how a drug behaves in the human gut is one of the biggest challenges in development. As development costs increase, models that predict human bioavailability early in the process are invaluable. The intestine is not only the gateway for drug absorption but also a site of first-pass metabolism, both of which directly influence oral bioavailability. Traditional in vitro models often fail to replicate this complexity and the biology of the human intestinal barrier.

Ussing Chambers Bring Real Intestinal Biology to the Laboratory Bench

The Ussing chamber is a powerful tool for studying drug absorption, metabolism and ion transport under conditions that closely mimic the intestine. By using intact tissue rather than simplified cell lines or subcellular fractions, this system preserves the natural architecture, enzyme activity, and transporter expression found in vivo. The result? Data that better predicts clinical performance and helps you make informed decisions sooner.

Why Fresh Human GI Tissue Makes the Difference

Animal models, cell lines and subcellular fractions can only go so far. Species differences and non-physiological expression levels and architecture often lead to misleading results. Fresh human gastrointestinal tissue offers the most accurate representation of drug behavior in people—capturing both passive and active transport, as well as metabolism by brush-border and intracellular enzymes. This level of fidelity is critical for reducing risk and improving translational success.

Our Commitment to Quality

All tissues used in our assays undergo stringent quality checks for viability and functionality. TEER and potential difference are measured continuously throughout the experiment to ensure reliable results. Tissues that do not meet our rigorous standards are not used, ensuring no charges for suboptimal samples.

At REPROCELL, we are committed to providing high-quality, reliable data to support your drug discovery efforts. Our advanced ADME/DMPK and ion channel function assays using the Ussing chamber system offer unparalleled insights into drug absorption and metabolism, enhancing the predictive accuracy of human bioavailability and supporting the development of effective oral therapies.

ADME/DMPK Assays

Our human GI permeability assay uses living gastrointestinal tissues in Ussing chambers to quantify drug transport and metabolite formation in a physiologically relevant system with intact enzymes and transporters. This enables simultaneous assessment of intestinal permeability and gastrointestinal metabolism, providing human-relevant data that overcomes the limitations of Caco-2 and animal models.

Ion Channel Function Assays

We provide solutions for studying ion channel function using our advanced Ussing chamber system. This tool detects changes in ion channel activity and exchange mechanisms, critical for understanding drug interactions within gastrointestinal tissues. By measuring short circuit current (I_sc, µAmps), our assays predict the effects of your test articles on ion channel function, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, where ion channels regulate fluid secretion.

Chloride channel assay