In vitro models

At the Fraunhofer TLC-RT, there is a broad portfolio of in vitro tissue models available for a wide variety of questions. Within our portfolio, we focus on barrier organs such as the skin, intestine, respiratory tract, or the blood-brain barrier. The models are of human origin and are generated either from primary cells or stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells. The aim is to make an active contribution to the reduction of animal experiments without neglecting the necessary efficacy testing or risk assessment. Hence, the TLC-RT commits itself to a high standardization of the models and industrial applicability to bridge the gap between academic and industrial research.

Besides the healthy state, we can also mimic diseased tissues to determine the efficacy of novel therapeutics in a fully human setting. Due to the high predictive capacity of the test systems, the risk of cost-intensive failures in the translation from the preclinical to the clinical phases can be minimized.

We generate 3D tissue models of the human nasal and tracheobronchial mucosa with high in vitro in vivo correlation using primary epithelial cells and biological scaffolds.

The epithelial cells differentiate to the mucociliary phenotype and are anchored to the connective tissue via a basement membrane. The tissue models can be used for example for risk assessment of biological and synthetic substances, infection studies and in the field of personalized therapy.

For many pathogens, humans are the only natural hosts. Here, the data collected from animal experiments are often not transferable to the mechanisms in the human organism. Together with our partners of the Research Training Group 2157, we investigate the interaction of human pathogens with the host tissue using appropriate 3D tissue models in vitro.

If we understand the key events of natural infections, we will be able to develop new preventive and therapeutic strategies to fight infectious diseases.

The human eye is responsible for the optical perception of our environment. In order for light to reach the sensory cells of the retina, the eye is only protected by a thin and transparent tissue, the cornea. Compared to the epidermis of the skin, the cornea is not keratinized and is therefore more susceptible to mechanical and chemical injuries.

For this purpose we have developed a human cornea model as an alternative to animal experiments, which reflects the in vivo anatomy. Due to the central importance of our visual sense and its vulnerability, we offer standardized test protocols to assess the potential risk and efficacy of substances and wound healing for the human eye.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is one of the tightest barriers in the human body, protecting the sensitive central nervous system from cytotoxic effects and pathogens.

By aid of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), we are able to offer patient and disease specific in vitro test systems of the BBB to investigate costumer specific issues. Our BBB model can be used as an evaluation tool in preclinical research and development, such as in drug transport or infection studies.

The intestine is the largest internal organ of the human body with multiple functions that arise from the structural and cellular composition of the intestinal epithelium. While the vilus regions of the epithelium predominantly contain differentiated cells with different functions, stem and precursor cells of the epithelium are located in the intestinal crypts.

In vitro, the stem cells of the epithelium can be cultivated as organoids, which are used to construct human Transwell^®-like tissue models with a biological extracellular matrix as scaffold. After maturation in vitro, all cell types of the human epithelium with characteristic structural and biological properties can be reproduced in the models.

Depending on the research question, the gastrointestinal models of the Fraunhofer TLC-RT are used in basic research, biocompatibility studies, drug and tox screening, disease modelling or infection studies.

The skin protects the human body from potentially dangerous influences and forms the interface with our environment. It is therefore important to maintain the health and functionality of the skin.

At Fraunhofer TLC-RT, we have therefore developed methods for producing skin models from human skin cells in vitro that can be used to identify harmful substances or to demonstrate a positive influence on the skin. Depending on the question, an epidermal, an epidermaldermal and a vascularized skin model can be used.

In addition, various skin diseases such as malignant melanoma can be simulated in vitro, enabling the development of new therapies in vitro.