Advanced Methodologies to Test Bioactive Compounds in Drug Discovery and in Food/Natural Products

Dear Colleagues,

The development of new in vitro methodologies is a response to the demand for advanced and versatile platforms for testing the bioactivity of different molecules (food compounds/contaminants/by-products, natural products, and drugs). In particular, cell-based dynamic models can overcome the limits of traditional cell culture tests (static models), working in fluidic conditions and reproducing the systemic/dynamic circulation of molecules across biological barriers and in cell co-cultures. The use of 3D cell culture assays associated with fluidic systems represents a powerful tool to better simulate in vivo tissues and physiological conditions. In conclusion, advanced in vitro methodologies represent promising predictive models of in vivo responses and alternatives to animal testing, according to the European Commission legislation.

This Special Issue is focused on recent progress and innovative and versatile platforms in the screening and testing of molecules with food and pharmaceutical research applications.

Dr. Raffaella Colombo
Guest Editor

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