Newly developed biomaterials, surface modifications, active substances, regenerative procedures, and innovative designs – they all need to be tested for their biological efficacy before they can be used in clinical practice. Those who merely meet the minimum standards often encounter disappointment in clinical markets. The more thoroughly the interaction with living systems is researched, the more reliably a new therapy can be sustainably established. Relying solely on animal testing is not a solution. Results from young, healthy animals, which have a completely different metabolism and anatomy than humans, provide only limited insights for clinical practice. Especially the often-cited, yet in vitro (still) non-reproducible immune system differs fundamentally from that of humans. Intelligently planned and professionally evaluated animal tests can account for this, but this requires thorough preparation and pre-selection based on precise tests with cell and tissue cultures. With today’s state of in vitro technology, significant complications can be excluded, ensuring that test animals heal without painful side effects—just as human patients would later.
BioMed Center Innovation will consult you on the right strategy to help you on your path to product development and select the in vitro assays that can assist you. We have a broad network of contacts in industry and academia, enabling you to verify almost any application through an appropriate in vitro model and support it with scientific evaluation.
In our cell laboratory, we primarily conduct standardized and highly innovative investigations on bone, cartilage, and osteochondral cultures. Our standard repertoire also includes in vitro tumor models and heart cells. We heavily rely on 3D and co-cultures that closely mimic living systems. In response to a practical requirement, we have developed our own series of bioreactors, which are easy and eficient to use, exceptionally durable due to being made from PEEK, and very economical. We can apply perfusion cultures, mechanically stimulated cultures, sensor-integrated systems, and samples adaptable to individual geometries, always with a statistically significant number of samples for evaluation.
In our S2 laboratory, we investigate the efficacy of surfaces, substances, and procedures using bacteria, fungi, and viruses (including coronaviruses). With specialized equipment and a spray mist system, we can test the functionality of mask materials. For antibacterial surfaces of implants, we employ specially adapted assays.
