Medical Biotechnology

Department Stem Cell & Cryo Technology

Stem Cell Technology

• Research and development of novel cell culture and screening systems with focus on miniaturization, parallelization and automation
• development of new concepts for automation of cell culture procedures in the area of stem cell research
• integration of complete cell culture processes of automation technologies using robotics and microfluidics
  • automated toxicity testing
  • automated hiPSC differentiation
• development of novel analysis methods for the investigation of three-dimensional cell constructs under miniaturized conditions
• research and development in the area of cryobiology and biotechnology
  • development of novel sterile vitrification protocols
  • development of new vitrification substrates
  • development of chemical defined high performance cryo media
• cell and tissue-specific optimization of cryopreservation processes
  • vitrification of hiPSCs on alginate microcarriers
  • cryopreservation of multicellular constructs
  • cryopreservation of adherent cell systems
• development of optimized disposables for cultivation, manipulation and live storage of viable cells and tissue at cryogenic temperatures
  

Cryosensors Technology

• Research and development in the field of cell and tissue specific cryopreservation and thawing procedures
  • development of application-oriented, conventional cryoprocesses and ice-free vitrification methods
  •  development of xeno- and serum-free cryopreservation media
  •  establishment of relevant (stem) cell-based model systems validated by (molecular) biological quality analyses
  •  development of laboratory disposables (e. g. sample tubes, microtiter plates, bags) for cultivation, manipulation and live deposition of cells and tissues at cryogenic temperatures

• research and development in the field of (cryogenic) electronics (digital and analog assemblies, sensor technology, RFID, optoelectronics)
  • development of intelligent sensors for a complete monitoring of the cold chain, for in-situ quality control
  • development of modules for inductive energy transfer and low-power electronic systems
  • development of (low temperature) electronic measuring stations
  • development of wireless, energy-efficient data logger modules for extreme environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, acceleration, radiation)

• research and development in the field of biomedical optics
  • concepts for functional optical sensing and imaging
  • application and evaluation of molecular probes for (imaging) measurement of physical, chemical and biological environmental parameters
  • design and implementation of optical microscopic studies on cells, cell assemblies, tissues and non-biological samples (confocal, non-linear, transmission, fluorescence) for biology, pharmacy and material sciences
  • development and adaptation of imaging optical contrast methods for biomedicine and material sciences

Automation Processes

• automated biobanking of biological material, micro-organisms and
  clinical samples under BSL 2 according to the genetic engineering act, infection protection act, biological agents regulations (DIN EN ISO9001:2015)
  
• optimization and validation of automated cell culture processes
  • cultivation of cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cells
  • production of HIV-1 pseudo-type viruses (“Good Clinical Laboratory Practice” (GCLP) - conform)
  • reprogramming und differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells
• automation of cell-based assays and processes
  • cytotoxicity assays, neutralization assays, ELISpot, embryonic stem cell assay, aliquoting, cryopreservation
  • optimization and validation up to certification under a quality management system

Department Bioprocessing & Bioanalytics

Biomonitoring & Biobanks

• planning, organization and management of sampling events of human and environmental samples (collection and documentation of medical history data, diary habits, life circumstances and lifestyle as well as further information on exposure relevant behaviour using standardized questionnaires)
• standardized analysis of clinical chemical parameters of human samples (blood, plasma, 24-hour urine collection)
  
• biometrical characterization of human and environmental samples
• development of protocols for biometrical sample characterization
• sample preparation and cryopreservation
• cryopreservation, cryostorage and administration of collected human and environmental samples
• transport of samples under cryogenic conditions
• statistical evaluation and interpretation of chemical and clinical data, data on body burden and medical history and biometrical data
• elaboration and optimization of standard operating procedures (SOPs) according to ISO EN DIN/IEC 17025
• operation of the cryo-repository of the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) at Münster/Wolbeck
• isolation and cultivation of adult stem cells of skin and inner organs of different animal species
• characterization of adult stem cells of animal origin
• cryopreservation and cryostorage of adult stem cells of animal origin
  
  

Biological Processing & Infrastucture

• Working with cells, microorganisms and clinical samples up to BSL-3
• establishment of biobanks (including cryopreservation, storage and distribution/shipment)
• establishment and application of pseudovirus and reporter virus systems
• antiviral drug efficacy studies
• determination of immune responses (cellular and antibody-based)
• development and automation of cell-based assays and process flows (QM-compliant)
• optimization and validation of biological processes and procedures (QM-compliant)
• establishment of cell cultures, cell expansion, cell characterization, cell quality control, gene expression analyses
• biocompatibility studies
• implementation of quality assurance programs and establishment of standard operation procedures (SOP)

Preclinical Nanomedicine

Preclinical testing of nanoparticular formulations

• examination of the interaction of nanomaterials with and crossing of biological barriers (e. g. blood-brain barrier, intestinal barrier, skin and lung barrier) from primary and stem cells
  
  • measurement of transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) using impedance spectroscopy
  • radionuclide-based assays
• implementation of suitable cell culture models for specific tumour targeting
• establishment of stem cell-based 3D cell culture models (e. g. organoids)
• proof of cellular uptake and subcellular distribution
• release, recovery and activity studies of incorporated ingredients
• drug screening, vascularization studies and cytotoxicity studies at HET-CAM system (Hen` s Egg Test on chorioallantoic membrane)
• portfolio of cell lines and primary cell-based models for nanotoxicological studies
  
• cytotoxicity studies according to ISO 10993/EN 30993
• radionuclide-based and immunological assays

Production of nanoparticular transport systems

• production of biocompatible protein- and polymer-based nanoparticular transport systems for e. g. RNA, DNA, proteins or drugs
  
• modification of nanoparticles with e. g. antibodies, peptides or polymers
• physicochemical characterization of colloidal and nanoparticular formulations

Nanotoxicology

REACH – Toxicological assessment by international standards

• assessment of the toxic potential of nanomaterials, chemicals, new materials and medical products
  • toxicological standard assessment according to REACH-test procedures (EC 440/2008)
  • acute & sub-chronic toxicity studies according to international standards (ISO, OECD)
  • studies for genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, cancerogenity, mutagenity
  • cytotoxicity studies (according to ISO 10993-5) and immunotoxicological assessment
  • vascularization test (HET-CAM assay) (Hen` s Egg Test on chorioallantoic membrane)
  • 3R alternatives to animal studies
    • reporter cell-based assays
    • single cell-based assays
    • miniaturized cell-based assays
    • radionuclide-based assays
    • individually developed assays
  • microchip-based toxicity studies
  • physicochemical characterization of (nano)materials and degradation products
  • portfolio of cell line- and primary cell-based models for (nano)toxicological studies

Route of entry of nanoparticles in the organism

• investigation of human and ecotoxicological exposure scenarios
  • in-vitro-/ex-vivo-exposure at air-liquid-interfaces (e. g. lung barrier, skin barrier) and at liquid-liquid-interfaces (e. g. intestinal barrier, blood-brain barrier)
  • in-vitro-and ex-vivo studies of human toxicological effects in the low dose range
  • proof of cellular uptake and the sub-cellular distribution in vitro
  • development of analytical tools for sensitive determination of the environmental fate and characteristics of nanomaterials in low dose range
  • ecotoxicological studies
  • microchip-based systems for cell cultivation and cell analysis
  • 3D, primary, multicell models, tissue models (e. g. liver)
  • nanotoxicity, chemicals, drug screening
  • compatibility studies of medical products
  • alternative test systems for nanotoxicity studies