Frickenhausen, – ThinCert cell culture inserts from Greiner Bio-One, a technology partner for the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industry, offer a real alternative to animal testing.

From 11 July 2013, trade in cosmetics tested on animals will be prohibited in EU member states under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. This applies to both end products and individual ingredients.

Perfectly replicated skin models consisting of human skin cells – from surgical waste, for example – feature the same properties and functions as normal human skin. The models therefore react even more authentically than animal skin to cosmetics in testing. ThinCert cell culture inserts from Greiner Bio-One offer an ideal artificial environment for in-vitro reconstruction of skin cells and are thus perfect for cultivating these skin cells.

The base of the cell culture inserts features a capillary pore membrane which consists of USP Class VI certified PET. The membrane enables oxygen to reach the cells from above while they are simultaneously supplied with nutrients from the multiwell plate below. This is important because skin cells need specific nutrients and contact with oxygen to develop the stratum corneum. The membrane surface is treated in a way that ensures optimum adhesion and growth for the cultivated cells. Using a scalpel, the PET membrane can be easily removed from the housing, thus also enabling light or electron

microscopic tests. The hanging geometry of the ThinCert cell culture inserts ensures the distance to the well base and the side walls. This prevents capillary suction between the internal and external well walls.

The cell culture inserts are available for 6, 12 and 24 well multiwell plates with pore diameters of 0.4!m, 1 !m, 3 !m and 8 !m. ThinCert inserts are thus ideal not only for primary cell cultures but also for transport, secretion and diffusion studies, migration experiments, cytotoxicity tests, co-cultures and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements.

Greiner Bio-One GmbH – BioScience Division

Greiner Bio-One is specialised in the development, production and distribution of plastic laboratory products. The company is a technology partner for universities, research institutes and the diagnostic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as well. With the BioScience division, Greiner Bio-One ranks among the leading providers of specialised products for the cultivation and analysis of cell and tissue cultures, as well as microplates for high-throughput screening, allowing industry and research most rapid and efficient drug screening. Additionally Greiner Bio-One develops innovative biochip technologies for genotyping. Under the management of Georg Heftberger, Rainer Perneker and Heinz Schmid, the German headquarters of the BioScience division in Frickenhausen (Baden-Württemberg) controls the whole research and development activities in the product ranges Cell Culture, High-Throughput Screening, Biochips and OEM.

Greiner Bio-One GmbH is a division of Greiner Bio-One International AG, based in Kremsmuenster (Austria). Today Greiner

Bio-One International AG generates a turnover of 364 million euros. It has over 1,700 employees and operates globally with 24 subsidiaries and numerous distributors in more than 100 countries