@conference {2279,
	title = {The need of innovative technologies for new 3D relevant in-vitro models and the answer of Ivtech},
	booktitle = {ALTEX Proceedings},
	year = {2014},
	pages = {45{\textendash}6},
	address = {Prague, Czech Republic},
	abstract = {<p>New relevant in-vitro models are priorities in pharmaco-toxicology, cosmetic and food research to reduce the animal tests. Therefore, invivo models show ethical issues, are not time and cost effective and are progressively showing scientific limitations: for instance they fail in detection of pathogens that are species specific (Mazzoleni et al., 2009). The search of more relevant pre-clinical models forced the researcher to move from 2D to 3D in-vitro models in order to maintain the phenotype of cells (Lovit et al., 2013; Mattei et al., 2014). Even if the significant progress in material science, the metabolic requirement of 3D tissues is higher than a 2D culture and the scaffold is a limitation in nutrients transport. Dynamic cell culture chambers are then required to assure the gas/nutrient supply, waste elimination, mechanical stimulation of cells, study of cross talk between different tissues and real time monitoring of cells. Nowadays the only systems that meet all these specifications are the Ivtech technologies. Ivtech is an innovative Italian start-up that grows up to solve the needs of in-vitro experts, offering and customizing several type of transparent, dynamic and modular cell culture systems, organizing workshops and training. The goal is to expand the 3D approach and permits a significant evolution towards highly relevant in-vitro models.</p>
},
	keywords = {Bioengineering},
	author = {Sbrana, T. and G. Mattei and S. Giusti and A. Ahluwalia},
	editor = {J. Dagmar and S. Horst}
}
@article {2274,
	title = {A novel dual-flow bioreactor simulates increased fluorescein permeability in epithelial tissue barriers},
	journal = {Biotechnology journal},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {<p>Permeability studies across epithelial barriers are of primary importance in drug delivery as well as in toxicology. However, traditional in vitro models do not adequately mimic the dynamic environment of physiological barriers. Here, we describe a novel two-chamber modular bioreactor for dynamic in vitro studies of epithelial cells. The fluid dynamic environment of the bioreactor was characterized using computational fluid dynamic models and measurements of pressure gradients for different combinations of flow rates in the apical and basal chambers. Cell culture experiments were then performed with fully differentiated Caco-2 cells as a model of the intestinal epithelium, comparing the effect of media flow applied in the bioreactor with traditional static transwells. The flow increases barrier integrity and tight junction expression of Caco-2 cells with respect to the static controls. Fluorescein permeability increased threefold in the dynamic system, indicating that the stimulus induced by flow increases transport across the barrier, closely mimicking the in vivo situation. The results are of interest for studying the influence of mechanical stimuli on cells, and underline the importance of developing more physiologically relevant in vitro tissue models. The bioreactor can be used to study drug delivery, chemical, or nanomaterial toxicity and to engineer barrier tissues.</p>
},
	keywords = {Bioengineering},
	issn = {1860-7314},
	doi = {10.1002/biot.201400004},
	url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24756869},
	author = {S. Giusti and Sbrana, T. and La Marca, M and V. Di Patria and V. Martinucci and Tirella, A and C. Domenici and A. Ahluwalia}
}
