Bioprocessing & Bioanalytics

Biomonitoring & Biobanks

• planning, organization and management of sampling events of human and environmental samples
• collection and documentation of medical history data, diary habits, life circumstances and lifestyle as well as further information on exposure relevant behaviour using standardized questionnaires
• standardized analysis of clinical chemical parameters of human samples (blood, plasma, 24-hour urine collection)
  
• biometrical characterization of human and environmental samples
• development of protocols for biometrical sample characterization
• sample preparation and cryopreservation
• cryopreservation, cryostorage and administration of collected human and environmental samples
• transport of samples under cryogenic conditions
• statistical evaluation and interpretation of chemical and clinical data, data on body burden and medical history and biometrical data
• elaboration and optimization of standard operating procedures (SOPs) according to ISO EN DIN/IEC 17025
• operation of the cryo-repository of the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) at Münster/Wolbeck
• isolation and cultivation of adult stem cells of skin and inner organs of different animal species
• characterization of adult stem cells of animal origin
• cryopreservation and cryostorage of adult stem cells of animal origin
  

Biological Processing & Infrastucture

• Working with cells, microorganisms and clinical samples up to BSL-3
• establishment of biobanks (including cryopreservation, storage and distribution/shipment)
• establishment and application of pseudovirus and reporter virus systems
  
• antiviral drug efficacy studies
  
• determination of immune responses (cellular and antibody-based)
  
• development and automation of cell-based assays and process flows (QM-compliant)
  
• optimization and validation of biological processes and procedures (QM-compliant)
  
• establishment of cell cultures, cell expansion, cell characterization, cell quality control, gene expression analyses
• biocompatibility studies
• implementation of quality assurance programs and establishment of standard operation procedures (SOP)
   

Preclinical Nanomedicine

Preclinical testing of nanoparticular formulations

• Examination of the interaction of nanomaterials with and crossing of biological barriers (e. g. blood-brain-barrier, intestinal barrier, skin and lung barrier) from primary and stem cells
  
  • measurement of transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) using impedance spectroscopy
  • radionuclide-based assays
• implementation of suitable cell culture models for specific tumour targeting
• establishment of stem cell-based 3D cell culture models (e. g. organoids)
• proof of cellular uptake and subcellular distribution
• release, recovery and activity studies of incorporated ingredients
• drug screening, vascularization studies and cytotoxicity studies at HET-CAM system (Hen` s Egg Test on chorioallantoic membrane)
• portfolio of cell lines and primary cell-based models for nanotoxicological studies
  
• cytotoxicity studies according to ISO 10993/EN 30993
• radionuclide-based and immunological assays

Production of nanoparticular transport systems

• Production of biocompatible protein- and polymer-based nanoparticular transport systems for e. g., RNA, DNA, proteins or drugs
• modification of nanoparticles with e. g., antibodies, peptides or polymers
• physicochemical characterization of colloidal and nanoparticular formulations

Nanotoxicology

REACH – Toxicological assessment by international standards

• Assessment of the toxic potential of nanomaterials, chemicals, new materials and medical products
  • toxicological standard assessment according to REACH-test procedures (EG 440/2008)
  • acute & sub-chronic toxicity studies according to international standards (ISO, OECD)
  • studies for genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, cancerogenity, mutagenity
  • cytotoxicity studies (according to ISO 10993-5) and immunotoxicological assessment
  • vascularization test (HET-CAM assay) (Hen` s Egg Test on chorioallantoic membrane)
  • 3R alternatives to animal studies
    • reporter cell-based assays
    • single cell-based assays
    • miniaturized cell-based assays
    • radionuclide-based assays
    • individually developed assays
  • microchip-based toxicity studies
  • physicochemical characterization of (nano)materials and degradation products
  • portfolio of cell line- and primary cell-based models for (nano)toxicological studies

Route of entry of nanoparticles in the organism

• Investigation of human and ecotoxicological exposure scenarios
  • In-vitro-/ex-vivo-exposure at air-liquid-interfaces (e. g., lung barrier, skin barrier) and at liquid-liquid-interfaces (e. g., intestinale barrier, blood-brain-barrier)
  • In-vitro-and ex-vivo studies of human toxicological effects in the low dose rangeproof of cellular uptake and the sub-cellular distribution in vitro
  • flow cytometry (FACS)
  • confocal Laser-Scanning-Microscopy (CLSM)
  • development of analytical tools for sensitive determination of the environmental fate and characteristics of nanomaterials in low dose range
  • ecotoxicological studies
  • microchip-based systems for cell cultivation and cell analysis
  • 3D, primary, multi cell models, tissue models (e. g. liver)
  • nanotoxicity, chemicals, drug screening
  • compatibility studies of medical products
  • alternative test systems for nanotoxicity studies