Direct in-vitro exposure methods – the future, now!

Within inhalation toxicology, two main aspects are currently gaining importance:

The move towards in-vitro studies to reduce or replace animal experiments, and to analyse actual atmospheres by taking into account the actual exposure situation.

Special exposure technologies, in particular the CULTEX^® systems, are able to satisfy such requirements. Today’s emphasis increasingly focuses on the human health impact of inhaled gaseous compounds and complex mixtures, e.g. cigarette smoke or diesel exhaust. Genotoxic evaluations of such materials are generally founded on experiments with model substances in mixtures and condensates. Reflecting the methodological difficulties of testing air contaminants in their natural gaseous or aerosolised state, there were previously no generally accepted techniques which allowed effective exposure of cells or bacteria under such conditions.

We therefore developed an exposure device, the so-called CULTEX^® system. This allows us to investigate atmospheres which are mostly unchanged both physically and chemically by exposing cells, 3D cell constructs or bacteria (Ames assay) directly at the air/liquid or air/agar interface.

Our brand new online catalog is now available with detailed information about our exposure modules and more.