Bio-related healthcare research company Kaiku is claimed to have developed a new technology for cell toxicity, which will eliminate the need for animal testing. The new technology was developed with as a joint project between Kaiku and scientists at the University of the West of England (UWE) and is said to provide a faster, cost effective alternative to animal testing, as well as complying with European legislation for greater testing on chemicals used in the C&T industry.
The new technology has found that by measuring changes in the electrical characteristics of cell, toxic effects of harmful compounds can be determined more rapidly than with traditional animal testing protocols.
The findings use a new form of Impedance Spectroscopy RIS (Resonant Impedence Spectroscopy) which enables the potential toxicity of compounds to be evaluated ethically.
“The replacement of animal testing is an important theme in the UK and European research, supporting the 3Rs - replacement, refinement and reduction,” said UWE principal lecturer, Richard Luxton. “But beyond this, we are at a point where technology has come to the aid of a social and moral campaign that usually is seen at odds with scientists.”