Development of dynamic 3D bone cells in vitro model to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoke on the bone remodelling

01.07.2019 bis 31.12.2023

Traditional in vitro systems often fail to accurately replicate the complex physiological environment of human tissues, limiting their predictive value for toxicological assessments. Evaluating the human health impact of reduced-risk products (RRPs) requires advanced, physiologically relevant models that can mimic multi-organ interactions and dynamic exposure conditions.
This project aims to develop a dynamic 3D co-culture in vitro bone cell model to study bone metabolism, evaluate the effects of Tobacco Heating System (THS 2.2) aerosol exposure alongside other relevant RRP platforms in comparison with conventional cigarette smoke, and predict osteotoxicity in humans. Crucially, the system is designed to be adaptable for coupling with a secondary tissue (liver) to closely mimic human systemic physiology.
By bridging the gap between conventional cell cultures and human physiology, this multi-organ-on-a-chip platform will provide a robust, highly predictive tool for consumer product safety testing, offering deep insights into aerosol-induced osteotoxicity while advancing alternative methods to animal testing.