Thursday, 14 April 2011 16:58

In vitro methods in inhalation toxicology – new approaches in the direct exposure of lung cells at the air-liquid interface using the CULTEX® RFS module Featured

Cultex Laboratories GmbH, located in the Medical Park Hannover, has developed the CULTEX® RFS module, a precision instrument for direct exposure of cells from the respiratory tract. Mimicking the in vivo situation, bronchial epithelial cells for example can be treated with a wide range of test substances (individual gases, gas mixtures, particulate aerosols etc.).

In a controlled, reproducible and stable test environment, cultivated cells can be exposed to airborne compounds and the risk potential analysed via their reaction spectrum.

Such methods to determine the cytotoxic potential of test substances offer promising possibilities to reduce animal experiments on acute toxicity. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) therefore already supports a research project for the prevalidation and validation of the Cultex method (BMBF Project: 03 157 10A: „In vitro determination of the acute toxicity of inhalationally effective fine dusts and nanoparticles after direct exposure of cultivated cells from the human respiratory tract“).

Further information is available online at www.cultex-laboratories.com.