https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12081362

Mélanie M. Leroux ¹ , Romain Hocquel ¹, Kevin Bourge ¹ , Boštjan Kokot ² , Hana Kokot ² , Tilen Kokliˇc ², Janez Štrancar ², Yaobo Ding ³ , Pramod Kumar ³, Otmar Schmid ³ , Bertrand H. Rihn ¹, Luc Ferrari ¹ and Olivier Joubert ^1
1 Institut Jean Lamour, UMR CNRS 7198, Université de Lorraine, CNRS, IJL, F-54000 Nancy, France
² Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Condensed Matter Physics, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
³ Institute of Lung Health and Immunity, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany

The goal of this work was to refine an ALI pre-established protocol for the VITROCELL^® Cloud 6 system. Therefore, after addressing each crucial step, (i.e., the use of very low concentrations of NP, the deposition of a homogeneous layer of surfactant, the specific use of semi-adherent cells, and finally the enhancement of the extraction yield of RNA to carry out transcriptomic studies), we present here for the first time a robust almost ready-to-use protocol. This one will be helpful for nanotoxicologists interested in developing such methodologies.

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Manual smoking machine with high tech features

The VC 1 smoking machine is used for a controlled aerosol generation of combustion cigarettes as well as of next generation devices such as Heated Tobacco Products (HTP) and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Special attention was given to guarantee very flexible programming of the smoking parameters. The properties of the aerosol are maintained due to small dead volumes of the system.

VITROCELL® Smoking Machine VC 1 2.0  (PDF)

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Brian M. Keyser¹, John Wertman¹, Michael Hollings², Robert Bedford², and Kristen Jordan^1
1 Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, RAI Services Company, Winston-Salem, NC; 
² Labcorp Early Development Laboratories Ltd., Harrogate, UK

In this study whole smoke from a marketed combustible cigarette and whole aerosol from four different ENDS were evaluated on cell viability and Nrf2 response in a 3D human airway model transfected with a luciferase Nrf2 promoter.
Whole aerosol was generated using a Vitrocell ® VC10® Smoke Exposure System. The tissues were exposed to whole smoke from a market combustible generated under Health Canada Intense regime.These data show that the 3D Nrf2 EpiAirway™ in vitro model can be used to assess and discriminate responses from a biomarker (oxidative stress) for disease pathways associated with tobacco product usage.

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Thomas Shutsky¹, Brian M. Keyser¹, Kristen Jordan¹, Michael Hollings², and Emma Rothwell^2
1Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, RAI Services Company, Winston-Salem, NC; 
²Labcorp Early Development Laboratories Ltd., Harrogate, UK

In this study, EpiAirway™ tissues were exposed to whole aerosol/smoke generated from six different Vuse Alto electronic nicotine delivery system test articles with various nicotine concentrations and a combustible cigarette. A Vitrocell® VC10® robot was used to generate whole aerosol/smoke with either a modified ISO or Health Canada Intense smoking regimen. Whole smoke/aerosol was puffed with clean air with a series of different air flows to achieve the delivered dose range. 

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For liquid droplet sizes 9 – 12 μm with diffusor

Certain chemicals or formulations, for example nasal sprays, often have larger particle sizes than the mesh size of standard nebulizers (4.0 – 6.0 μm). The VITROCELL Cloud Advanced Nebulizer is enlarging the application areas of Cloud Exposure Systems. This special type offers the possibility to produce an aerosol containing particles in the range of 9.0 – 12.0 μm.
Our patented Cloud diffusor ensures a homogeneous distribution of even the larger droplet sizes in the Cloud Exposure Chamber. To avoid effects from larger droplet formations it has an integrated drain channel.

VITROCELL® Cloud Advanced Nebulizer  (PDF)

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