VITROCELL® presents key technologies for the in vitro exposure of airborne substances such as gases, complex mixtures, nano particles and fibres at the WC7 World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences. The Congress is taking place in Rome from August 30 – September 3, 2009.
On 60 pages, VITROCELL® gives an overview of their know how in the design, manufacturing and installation of advanced exposure and cultivation systems. The catalogue is divided in the sections cultivation and exposure modules, dose supply, dilution / distribution systems, module racks and other required components. All equipment is delivered turnkey.
About the VITROCELL® cell cultivation and exposure technology
The direct exposure of the cells takes place at the air liquid interface in the VITROCELL® cell cultivation and exposure modules. For this purpose, the cells are first cultivated on membrane inserts (e. g. ThinCerts® from Greiner, Costar® from Corning or Falcon® from Becton Dickenson). The membrane inserts are placed in the modules which are tempered at 37°C. The medium supply is performed by either static, intermittent or by permanent exchange methods. In all cases the cells receive the cell culture medium from below through the membrane of the insert.
In the direct exposure technology, the test atmosphere is delivered to the cells via specially treated aerosol inlets using a low vacuum flow. As the cells are not covered with medium, they are exposed most efficiently at the air liquid interface and can therefore react in an optimal manner. After exposure, the membrane inserts are taken out of the module and cells are forwarded to standard routines for endpoint analysis.
The same principles of exposure can be applied by working with bacteria (AMES test).
The VITROCELL® product range helps to reduce animal testing in the field of e. g. inhalation toxicology. The customers of VITROCELL® are leading medical and environmental research institutes as well as the pharmaceutical and other industries throughout the world.
Waldkirch, August 2009
