Askea Precision Engineering GmbH has developed a cell culture reactor that can be used for conducting in vitro inhalation tests with toxic dusts such as cigarette smoke, industrial welding dust or incinerator emissions. The device has already been successfully tested in a prevalidation study by the company Cultex (InVitroJobs has already reported on the project, and both Aksea and Cultex are represented on our work group list).

The device ensures the cells’ vitality and a stable test atmosphere in order to be able to expose the cells to different substances in a controlled and reproducible manner, after which the exposed cells can be examined for harmful effects of the substances. The prize money amounts to 10,000 euros.

For more information:
http://www.mfw.baden-wuerttemberg.de/sixcms/detail.php/308016
http://www.patente-stuttgart.de/index_ipbw.php

Information on Aksea Precision Engineering GmbH: http://www.askea.de/index.php