Toxicity tests
A toxicity test is a scientific procedure used to verify the safety of a chemical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic substance before it is used in humans.
Using advanced in vitro technologies, these tests allow us to observe how substances affect the development and function of human cells, ensuring reliable and reproducible results.
The main purpose is to identify any harmful effects that the substance may have on human cells, tissues or organs.
The toxicity tests offered by Avantea represent an innovative and ethical method to assess the safety of drugs, cosmetics and chemicals without using laboratory animals.
Types of tests available
- In vitro maturation test (IVM) → Reproduces the natural process of oocyte maturation in vitro, equivalent to the pre-ovulatory phase in vivo.
What is it used for? Identifies possible toxic effects on oocytes before fertilization.
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF) test→ Exposing oocytes and sperm to test substances and evaluate their interaction.
What is it used for? Analyse possible toxic effects on oocytes and on the fertilization itself, measuring the the ability of sperm to fertilize the oocyte.
- In vitro embryo culture test (IVC) → Evaluates in vitro embryonic growth to the hatched blastocyst stage, reproducing the initial phase of human embryonic development.
What is it used for? Detects toxic effects on the early stages of embryonic development and implantation potential of the embryo.
Cytotoxicity test on fibroblasts 3T3 (Alamar Blue Test) → A general cytotoxicity test to assess cell viability after exposure to a substance.
What is it for? Helps to discriminate between toxicity specific to reproductive processes and generic toxicity on the cells.
Thanks to the use of advanced in vitro methods, these tests allow us to observe how substances affect the development and function of human cells, ensuring reliable and reproducible results.
Avantea not only contributes to the research and development of models of pigs for organ transplantation, but it is also directly involved in innovative projects aimed at producing tissues and cells for regenerative medicine.
An ethical approach
The 3R principle
In traditional biomedical research, toxicity tests often involve the slaughter of laboratory animals, such as rodents, to analyse the impact of chemical substances on fertility and embryonic development. Avantea has adopted an innovative and more ethical approach, eliminating the need to sacrifice animals by using in vitro models and bovine biological material.
- Replacement
Replacement of live animal testing with advanced in vitro models, ensuring data scientifically reliable without resorting to sacrifice of living beings. - Reduction
Use of bovine oocytes obtained from animal ovaries already destined to the food chain, thus avoiding additional sacrifices. - Refinement
Development and optimization of analytical techniques in in vitro to ensure highly predictive results on Human reproductive toxicity, without direct impacts on animals.
Avantea has chosen to use bovine embryos in toxicity tests reproductive, as they reproduce the processes with high fidelity human reproductive. In addition, the oocytes used come from ovaries of animals already destined for the food chain, eliminating the need to Sacrifice animals exclusively for research.