GLOSSARY

 

 

3T3 Fibroblasts

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Fibroblasts are connective tissue cells. 3T3 fibroblasts are a standardized cell line. Their origin is the mouse.

 

Arctigenin

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Arctigenin is a substance contained in various plants, such as the Great Burdock. Arctigenin shows antiviral and anti-cancer properties. Articgenin is especially cytotoxic against nutrient-deprived cells.

Beta cells

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Beta cells are the insulin producing cells in the Langerhans-islets of the pancreas.

 

Bioimpedance

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The bioimpedance of cells results beside other factors of the electrically insulating properties of cell membranes and retrieves information about morphology of living cells. Bioimpedance consists of real- and imaginary part or of the equivalent magnitude and phase.

 

Cellular Respiration

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Cellular respiration (aerobic respiration) are metabolic processes in cells in which hydrogen atoms are to be oxidized. Molecular, elemental oxygen (O2) is used as an oxidizing agent, which is thereby reduced to water.

Cellular Respiration is a major parameter to measure the vitality of cells.


Chlorella kessleri

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Chlorella kessleri is an algae species.

cellasys GmbH uses different types of algae, such as chlorella kessleri as signal transducer for determining water quality (water quality monitoring).

 

Chemotherapy

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Chemotherapy is a drug based therapy of cancer or infections. The chemotherapy uses substances that are supposed to have a harmful effect to specific disease-causing cells or microorganisms with the goal to kill them or to inhibit the growth of them.

With the cell based assays from cellasys GmbH it is possible to determine the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs before they are applied to the patient.


Cisplatin

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Cisplatin is a widely used cytotoxic (inhibition of cell growth or cell division) drug. The effect is based on the inhibition of DNA replication by conjunction between the two DNA strands, which are thus inoperable.

The metabolism is disrupted and the cell initiates its cell death.


Cytochalasin B

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Cytochalasin B is a fungal poison which can intrude into the cell. It inhibits cell division and cell mobility.

 

Escherichia coli bacteria

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Escherichia coli is a bacterium that is found in human and animal intestines. It is one of the  best-studied organisms.

 

Extracellular Acidification

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Extracellular Acidification is the change in pH of environmental medium of cells caused by cell metabolism products .

The measurement of extracellular acidification shows information about the vitality of living cells.


Fetal Calf Serum (FCS)

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Fetal calf serum (FCS) is derived from the blood of fetal cows and is a major component of many culture media, which are used for breeding and cultivation of cells.

 

Insulin

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Insulin is a hormon that is produced in the β-cells of the pancreas.


Metamitron

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Metamitron is a herbicide, which is used to produce a variety of pesticides.


Metabolism

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The metabolism is the uptake, transport and chemical transformation of materials into a cell and the disposal of waste products into its environment, such as cell culture media.

 

Morphology

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Morphology is the description of form and structure of cells. A change in the morphology of cells can be determined by bioimpedance measurement. The metabolism of living cells can be monitored via their cellular respiration and their extracellular acidification.

 

PANC-1

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PANC-1 cells are a standardized human cell line and are mainly used in cancer research. The origin of PANC-1 cells is the human pancreas.

 

Regenerative medicine

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Regenerative medicine is a field of biomedicine. It deals with the cure of various diseases by restoring malfunctioning cells, tissues and organs by biological substitutes, for example using cultured tissue.