Understanding the human gut microbiome is key to unlocking insights into health, disease, and therapeutic opportunities. Yet, capturing accurate samples from the small intestine—a critical site of host-microbe interaction—has remained a challenge.
A new study published in Device by researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) introduces CORAL (Cellularly Organized Repeating Lattice), a novel ingestible capsule designed to passively sample microbes from the upper gastrointestinal tract. Unlike stool sampling, which mainly reflects bacteria from the colon, CORAL captures microbial communities from the small intestine, providing a more precise picture of this important ecosystem.
A Coral-Inspired Design
CORAL draws inspiration from the porous architecture of marine corals, incorporating triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattices that create intricate fluid pathways. As the capsule naturally moves through the gut, these structures trap bacteria without the need for moving parts, electronics, or external actuation.
Engineering the Coral-Capsule
The capsule’s unique architecture was made possible with Boston Micro Fabrication’s (BMF) projection micro stereolithography (PµSL) 3D printing technology.
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Micron-level precision allowed researchers to create tortuous lattice structures with pores as small as 80–100µm—ideal for capturing bacteria while ensuring structural robustness.
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Single-step fabrication enabled the entire capsule, including its internal lattice core, to be manufactured in one process, without assembly or cleanroom lithography.
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Biocompatible materials ensured the device could safely pass through the gastrointestinal tract during in vivo studies.
This precision manufacturing was critical in transforming CORAL from concept to functional device, enabling successful testing in rodent models where the capsules accurately captured small intestine microbiota not represented in stool samples.
Opening New Frontiers
The findings highlight how micro-precision 3D printing can accelerate innovation in medical devices—from concept to clinical potential. CORAL provides a scalable, non-invasive approach to studying microbial populations in the gut, paving the way for improved diagnostics, therapeutics, and our broader understanding of human health.
