Poster, SOT 65th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 22–25, 2026, in San Diego, California.
Raymond D. Devine1, Robert A. Moyer1, Stephanie N. Pearson1, Kent C. Hofacre1, Amit Gupta1, Andrew J. Keebaugh2,3, Rebecca A. Clewell2,4
1Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH,
2Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), OH,
3BlueHalo, an AV, Inc. company, Dayton, OH,
4Eagle Integrated Services, LLC, WPAFB, OH, USA
Introduction
In high-stakes operational environments, rapid and scientifically robust risk assessments are essential for protecting human health.
A recent study conducted by the Air Force Research Laboratory in collaboration with Battelle investigates the application of Air–Liquid Interface (ALI) technology for studying acute lung injury.
Using the VITROCELL® 24/48 system, researchers simulated exposure to airborne chemical agents, including propylene oxide vapor, under controlled and reproducible conditions.
The results indicate that ALI-based exposure systems provide stable and physiologically relevant conditions for in vitro inhalation studies. The study reports dose-dependent effects on epithelial barrier integrity (TEER), as well as changes in inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and IL-10 at sublethal exposure levels.
These findings support the use of ALI exposure models as a complementary approach to traditional in vivo inhalation studies. By utilizing VITROCELL® technology, researchers can achieve the precision required for the investigation of early cellular responses to inhaled substances, establishing a reliable foundation for NAM-based testing schemes.
