Characterisation of a Vitrocell® VC 10 in vitrosmoke exposure system using dose tools and biological analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThe development of whole smoke exposure systems have been driven by the fact that traditional smoke exposure techniques are based on the particulate phase of tobacco smoke and not the complete smoke aerosol. To overcome these challenges in this study, we used a Vitrocell® VC 10 whole smoke exposure system. For characterisation purposes, we determined smoke deposition in relationship to airflow (L/min), regional smoke deposition within the linear exposure module, vapour phase dilution using a known smoke marker (carbon monoxide) and finally assessed biological responses using two independent biological systems, the Ames and Neutral Red uptake (NRU) assay.ResultsSmoke dilution correlates with particulate deposition (R2 = 0.97) and CO concentration (R2 = 0.98). Regional deposition analysis within the linear exposure chamber showed no statistical difference in deposited mass across the chamber at any airflows tested. Biological analysis showed consistent responses and positive correlations with deposited mass for both the Ames (R2 = 0.76) and NRU (R2 = 0.84) assays.ConclusionsWe conclude that in our study, under the experimental conditions tested, the VC 10 can produce stable tobacco smoke dilutions, as demonstrated by particulate deposition, measured vapour phase smoke marker delivery and biological responses from two independent in vitro test systems.

Application of a modified gaseous exposure system to the in vitro toxicological assessment of tobacco smoke toxicants

“…Initial experiments were performed to establish the concentrations of EtO required to elicit a mutagenic response in YG1042 under treatment conditions previously established for whole smoke exposure using the VC 10 [Thorne et al, ]. The data obtained from the testing of EtO using our initial experimental system are shown in Figure .…”

“…Due to the technical difficulties associated with the testing of gaseous chemicals, the biological effects of many of these individual smoke toxicants have not been widely studied in vitro to date. We have previously characterized a Vitrocell ® VC 10 whole smoke exposure system that has been used to evaluate the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of mainstream tobacco smoke on mammalian and bacterial cells, respectively [Thorne et al, ]. The VC 10 is a single syringe, rotary style smoking machine that typically transfers mainstream tobacco smoke into a continuous flow dilution system.…”

The mutagenic assessment of mainstream cigarette smoke using the Ames assay: A multi-strain approach

“…A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) (Vitrocell ® Systems, Waldkirch, Germany) was included in situ of exposure at position 4 within the Ames module, distal to the smoke inlet, as previously demonstrated [38][39][40]. QCMs provide a gravimetric measure of deposited mass, providing a valuable quality control (QC) measure of smoke exposure within and between runs, and allows data to be presented as a function of deposited mass (g/cm 2 ).…”

Cigarette Mainstream Smoke: The Evolution of Methods and Devices for Generation, Exposure and Collection

“…Unfortunately, a report of this interesting study is so far available in abstract form only; a full publication is said to be in preparation. A straight-forward performance assessment of the Vitrocell ® smoke generation and exposure system was conducted by THORNE et al (490) using two physical and two biological methods for analysis. A VC 10 ® smoking robot was combined with a Vitrocell ® 6/4 CF stainless steel or a Vitrocell ® Ames exposure module ( Figure 52).…”

“…Both biological tests showed consistent responses and positive, though somewhat moderate, correlations with deposited mass. With the experimental arrangement (VC 10 ® and Vitrocell ® 6/4 CF exposure module, equipped with one QCM; 3R4F Kentucky reference cigarettes smoked under ISO conditions; dilution flow rates of 1-10 L/min and chamber flow rate of 5 mL/min/well) used in the earlier study (490), THORNE et al (491) examined the neutral red uptake test with ALI exposure of Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Both whole smoke and gas vapor phase (obtained by passing smoke through a Cambridge filter placed between the VC 10 ® smoking head and the syringe piston) were analyzed.…”