Group Preclinical Nanobiotechnology:

• Preclinical testing of nanoparticulate formulations
  - establishment of adequate cell culture models for specific tumor-targeting and crossing of
  biological barriers (e. g. blood-brain-barrier)
  - proof of the cellular uptake and subcellular distribution
  - release and recovery of the incorporated drugs
  - studies to the biological activity of incorporated drugs
  - methods (Flow cytometry (FACS), Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Fluorescence
  lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), measurement of the transendothelial electrical resistance
  (TER) via impedance spectroscopy, individually developed assays)
  
• Cytotoxicity studies according to ISO 10993/EN 30993
  

Group In-vitro-Culture Technologies:

• development of physiological in-vitro tissue models
• separation, cultivation, characterization and differentiation of adult stem cells
• cytotoxicity studies according to ISO 10993/EN 30993
• drug screening, compatibility studies and cytotoxicity studies on the HET-CAM-system (Hen’s Egg test on chorio-allantoic membrane)
  

Central HIV-Bank of CAVD (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

• biobanking of microorganisms and clinical samples at biological safety level (BSL) S3

• production of bio-reagents (e. g. virus stocks)

• training (approx. 10 people)
  - general cell culture
  - cutomated cell culture
  - transfection of eucaryotic cells
  - working with infectious material
  - processing of peripheral mononuclear blood cells derived from whole blood
  - new methods of cell cryopreservation
  - vitality determination via flow cytometry
  - cell characterization via flow cytometry
  - measurement of immune answers (e. g. ELISpot)
  - bio luminescence assays
  - bacterial transformation
  - plasmid preparation
  - digestion with restriction enzymes
  - cloning
  - agarose gel electrophoresis
  - detection and analysis of proteins via Western Blot (Intas, ChemiLux)
  - implementation into quality assurance programs (e. g. Good Clinical Laboratory Practice – GCLP
  - compilation of SOPs