In Vitro Tests

We offer a broad range of in vitro studies, backed by many years of experience, state-of-the-art instruments including modern cell culture equipment.

Not only human skin cell cultures (e.g. fibroblasts, melanocytes, keratinocytes) and organotypic skin models (e.g. by SkinEthic™, MatTek) but also skin samples obtained from punch biopsies or the suction blister method can be subjected to a broad range of in vitro analyses:

• Cytotoxicity testing (NR test, MTT test, WST1 test)
• Phototoxicity testing (NR test, MTT test, WST1 test)
• Apoptosis
• Skin renewal and differentiation (number of proliferating cells within the epidermis, immunohistological staining of the cell nuclei of proliferating cells with antibody Ki67)
  
• Cell metabolism (e.g. ATP content)
• Irritation testing ( e.g. on reconstructed human epidermis)
• Gene expression
• ELISA (e.g. collagen, fibrillin, hyaluronic acid, 8-isoprostane, carbonyl proteins, metallo-proteinases, cytokines)
• Protein synthesis
• Anti-oxidant testing (8-isoprostane as a marker for lipid peroxidation, carbonyl proteins as marker for protein oxidation)
• Immunohistological analyses of UV-induced DNA damage in vitro (thymine dimers, 8-oxo-guanine)
• Histological and immunohistological analyses
• Pigmentation and whitening (effect on melanogenesis)
• Anti-inflammatory effects (e.g. secretion of inflammatory cytokines)
• Sun protection
• Differential gene expression via Real Time Quantitative PCR

Please contact us for further information, consultation or a detailed proposal.