Cell therapy and tissue engineering (TERCIT)
Services offered
- Biocompatibility tests. Biocompatibility refers to the ability of a biomaterial to perform the desired function according to a medical treatment, without causing any undesirable effect, but at the same time generating the best cell or tissue response in that particular situation. In vitro testing is useful for a first screening of the biological effects of a specific biomolecule or a new biomaterial in order to reduce the use of animals and the costs related to in vivo analysis. The UIB has a proven track record in biocompatibility studies of biomolecules and biomaterials in vitro (implant surfaces, hydrogels, scaffolds, micro and nanoparticles, stents, etc.) and offers the following assays: Cytotoxicity (LDH Activity or cell viability tests) Assays of cell metabolism and proliferation Cell morphology by Scanning Electron/Confocal microscopy Cell adhesion profile Gene expression profiling by real-time RT-PCR Release of specific markers by immunoassays Functional assays: ALP activity and mineralization (osteoblasts), resorption pit assay (osteoclasts), wound healing assay (gingival fibroblasts), collagen production, etc. Hemocompatibility tests: Hemolysis, Platelet adhesion Cell cultures: human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells, human gingival fibroblasts, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, mouse preosteoclast and pre-osteoblast cell lines, human vascular endothelial cells. Other cell lines can be set up upon demand. All studies are performed in compliance with the guidelines established by the regulatory agencies. Protocols are designed to meet the regulatory requirements of current standards (ISO 10993: Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices).