Food

Organ-on-a-Chip technology: the key to reducing animal testing

Animal testing has played a vital role in advancing medical research by contributing to breakthroughs in drug development, drug safety, and disease understanding. However, despite these contributions, animal testing comes with significant limitations. Ethically, the practice raises serious concerns about animal welfare, prompting growing public opposition and calls for more humane alternatives

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS) can potentially reduce allergy development

In the previous two blogs of this series, we have discussed the development of a functional invitro bronchial epithelial mucosal immune model. We also highlighted the current knowledgeabout HMOS in the context of immune development and asthma specifically. In this blog, weare going to evaluate the function of two specific HMOS, 2’FL and 3FL, in…

Development of an in vitro lung-immune model

The respiratory system is constantly exposed to airborne pathogens, allergens, and pollutants, making the bronchial epithelium a critical first line of defense. Among these environmental triggers, house dust mites (HDMs) are a major source of allergens that can provoke strong immune responses, particularly in individuals with asthma and other allergic respiratory conditions. These lung conditions…

Breath taking: lung physiology explained

The lungs are vital organs responsible for gas exchange, ensuring that oxygen is delivered to thebloodstream while expelling carbon dioxide from the body. This exchange occurs in the alveoli,tiny air sacs with thin walls that allow e􀆯icient di􀆯usion of gases.

Flower dependent trafficking of lamellar bodies facilitates maturation of the epidermal barrier

Big news in skin science! A study in Nature Communications has uncovered a new detail about how our skin's protective barrier is formed. A protein called hFWE4 uses calcium to ensure vital building blocks are delivered to the skin's surface. Understanding this process is critical for future innovations in skin health and treatments for skin…

Comparing Transwell and Organ-on-Chip Cultures in Modern Biology

Impedance spectroscopy; what and why?

Impedance spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique widely used in in vitro testing to evaluate the barrier function of cell cultures. One of the most critical applications of impedance spectroscopy is in assessing the integrity of epithelial and endothelial cell layers through measurements such as trans epithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and…

Importance of in vitro testing for the 3R’s

Animal testing has long been a fundamental aspect in biomedical research, toxicology studies, and drug development. However, ethical concerns and scientific limitations have driven the development of alternative methods that align with the principles of the 3R’s: replacement, reduction, and refinement. In vitro testing has emerged as one of the most promising approaches to achieving…

Innovative Microphysiological Model Using HepatoXcell™ Primary Human Hepatocytes and Locsense Artemis

The development of a highly representative in vitro gut-liver model is essential for improving drug testing accuracy while minimizing the reliance on animal studies. Traditional animal models often fail to fully replicate human physiology, leading to discrepancies in drug metabolism and toxicity predictions.1 A physiologically relevant gut-liver system would provide a more accurate platform to…

HMOS 2’FL and 3FL prevent house dust mite induced proinflammatory cytokine release in vitro and decrease specific IgE production in a murine allergic asthma model

Allergic asthma is characterized by sensitization to airborneallergens like house dust mite (HDM). Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS) are linked to improved immune maturation and potentially alleviate allergy development. Here, we describe an in vitro human airway mucosal HDM sensitization model as relevant tool to reduce use of animals in studies aiming to prevent HDM allergic…