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How do you get NAMs-ready, human relevant data on anesthetic safety?
he debate on anesthetic effects in the developing brain has been stuck on mixed and often non-human data. FDA/NCTR used neural stem cell models and trusted VITROCELL SC3 Exposure Systems to keep xenon or desflurane, O₂, and CO₂ rock steady during long exposures. When the atmosphere stays steady, the biology speaks. Neuroprotection revealed: In human neurons, 33% xenon blunted propofol-induced damage and preserved key markers and morphology. Conditional toxicity pinpointed: In primate neurons, desflurane showed toxicity only in differentiated cells and only after a 24 hour exposure. Shorter exposure and undifferentiated cells were largely unaffected. These are not just results. They show what becomes visible when your exposure system does not…
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How evenly is your aerosol really reaching the cells?
We put our VITROCELL Essentials Exposure Module to the test and ran a full internal uniformity study with diluted 1R6F reference cigarette smoke in both 12‑ and 24‑well formats – flows from 0.25 to 4 L/min. Spoiler: no drama, no divas, no “problem” positions. In our new Application Note AN‑15, we show that: Across all flows, relative deposition at the three exposure positions stays comfortably inside an 85–115 % acceptance band in both 12‑ and 24‑well setups. Fluorescence intensity drops nicely with increasing flow, giving a broad, flow‑based dose range without positional bias. Variability stays low and predictable – even at the more diluted conditions. In other words: Essentials does…
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New paper: When 96 exposure positions work together… your data gets BIG, very fast!
Our VITROCELL® 96 Exposure System has just been put through its paces in a new open‑access publication in Environmental Sciences Europe and it passed with flying colors. In this study, A549 cells at the air–liquid interface are exposed in a 96‑well format to: 11 aerosol concentrations + clean air controls – all in a single run Continuous-flow exposure generated with the VITROCELL® VC 1 Smoking Machine A full panel of cytotoxicity, DNA damage and immunomodulation readouts for robust dose–response curves As a case study, the authors compare 1R6F reference cigarette smoke with IQOS heated tobacco aerosol to show how the system can support early hazard ranking of complex aerosols within…
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Evaluating Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) for Reduced Aircraft Emissions
As part of the ADVISAR project, the effects of emissions from aircraft turbines are being comprehensively investigated from a chemical and physical perspective. In collaboration between Zurich University of Applied Sciences and Adolphe Merkle Institute, human lung cell cultures are now being exposed to diluted aircraft emissions from the engine test cell at SR Technics. Cell exposure now took place for the first time at the air-liquid interface (ALI) using a Vitrocell AirTox Monitor exposure system. This approach enables direct, real-time assessment of cellular responses to emissions under representative engine operating conditions. It is great to see our system being used in such an interesting and unique experimental setup. Firmenkontakt…
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More and more research efforts are emerging to explore another air-liquid interface: the eye!
First studies using our Cloud systems have already been successfully published (see link in the comments). Another widespread challenge is dry eye disease, where further studies are needed – and there’s a lot happening in the Eye-on-a-Chip community! For these applications, ultra-thin porous membranes, tunable mechanical properties, and compatibility with multiple readouts are key. For example, the AlveoliX AX12 chip fits beautifully into our various exposure systems, enabling versatile and physiologically relevant testing. At VITROCELL, we’re excited to support the next generation of ocular in vitro models! More information Firmenkontakt und Herausgeber der Meldung: VITROCELL Systems GmbH Fabrik Sonntag 3 79183 Waldkirch Telefon: +49 (7681) 4977950 http://www.vitrocell.com Ansprechpartner: Tobias Krebs…
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Real-world airborne exposure meets in vitro precision
Vitrocell exposure systems enable direct air–liquid interface (ALI) exposure of mammalian cells and tissues to real-world airborne substances. From gases, complex mixtures, and combustion exhausts to cigarette smoke, e-cigarette vapor, household chemicals, nanomaterials, pharmaceutical aerosols, dry powders, and even viruses, Vitrocell supports high-quality in vitro inhalation research. Vitrocell helps teams generate reliable, reproducible data for toxicology, pharmaceutical development, and safety testing, while reducing reliance on animal studies and accelerating innovation. Interested in your use case? Let’s connect. More Information Firmenkontakt und Herausgeber der Meldung: VITROCELL Systems GmbH Fabrik Sonntag 3 79183 Waldkirch Telefon: +49 (7681) 4977950 http://www.vitrocell.com Ansprechpartner: Tobias Krebs Managing Director Telefon: +49 (7681) 4977950 E-Mail: info@vitrocell.com Weiterführende Links…
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Why Air–Liquid Interface exposure is a game-changer for inhalation research
In traditional submerged cell culture, airway cells are covered by liquid – a condition that does not reflect how humans actually breathe. At the Air–Liquid Interface (ALI), mammalian cells and tissues are exposed directly to airborne substances, replicating human respiratory physiology more closely and producing more predictive, human-relevant results. From toxicology to pharmaceutical development and safety testing, ALI exposure allows researchers to generate reliable, reproducible data while reducing the reliance on animal studies. Why and when are you using submerged exposure? More information Firmenkontakt und Herausgeber der Meldung: VITROCELL Systems GmbH Fabrik Sonntag 3 79183 Waldkirch Telefon: +49 (7681) 4977950 http://www.vitrocell.com Ansprechpartner: Tobias Krebs Managing Director Telefon: +49 (7681) 4977950…
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Real-world airborne exposure meets in vitro precision
Not all test atmospheres can be tested the same way. Some require the Continuous Flow Exposure Principle. In our Continuous Flow Exposure Systems, mammalian cells, tissues, and ex vivo material can be exposed to a constant flow of gases, complex mixtures, or particles – allowing both gas and particle phases to be assessed simultaneously. Furthermore, the method is fully compatible with organ-on-chip exposure using the AlveoliX AX12. The Continous Flow exposure principle is indispensable when: • long-term exposure is required • all phases of a test atmosphere are relevant • testing materials / atmosphere is available in sufficient quantities for a longer-term continuous delivery Depending on the Exposure System, exposures…
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When advanced exposure technology is used for environmental research
Following successful factory acceptance testing at Vitrocell in Waldkirch, we recently completed the final user training for the AirTox Monitor systems at LISA – Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques, (Université Paris Cité/Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC)/CNRS, France). What often matters most at this stage is not the system itself – but how confidently research teams can integrate it into their existing workflows. Working with a highly motivated and interdisciplinary team of researchers/engineers from Université Paris Cité, UPEC, CNRS and INSERM, the focus of the training was on practical application, data interpretation, and real-world usability in ongoing inhalation research projects. With both AirTox Monitor systems now fully implemented, we are looking forward…
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New study by French Armed Forces research team: Pollutant mixtures trigger early lung effects long before acute toxicity appear
In a recently published study, researchers from the Institut de Recherche Biomédical des Armées (IRBA) and INERIS carried out repeated, sub-lethal co-exposures to aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) and hydrogen chloride (HCl). A human air–liquid interface co-culture model of alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts was exposed using the VITROCELL Cloud System. Key findings: No loss of cell viability or barrier integrity No induction of classical inflammatory or fibrotic markers But: activation of markers for fibroblast proliferation and migration was detected The results suggest that “silent” epithelial stress from mixed airborne pollutants may initiate early lung damage through unconventional epithelial–mesenchymal crosstalk—an aspect that may be missed by standard toxicity endpoints. This…
