Our department offers an infrastructure that covers advanced in vitro and in vivo models, state-of-the-art analytical techniques, and cutting-edge imaging, molecular, and computational tools. Together, these platforms enable mechanistic, translational, and exposure-driven research for a wide range of biomedical and environmental health questions. The listed techniques are available and can be combined into tailored experimental pipelines, supporting both collaborative projects and service-oriented studies.

For further information, please contact secretariaat-phartox@maastrichtuniversity.nl, who will be happy to assist you and direct your inquiry to the appropriate experts.

In House Techniques

Advanced Cell Culture & In Vitro Models

Various 2D cell culture models
Human primary cell cultures
3D human cell culture models
     - Intestinal epithelial models
     - Bronchial and alveolar epithelial models
Air–liquid interface (ALI) culture systems
Endothelial cell culture models
     - Barrier integrity (TEER)
     - Permeability assays

Exposure & Inhalation 

Air-liquid interface exposure systems (static) 
Nanoparticle generation for toxicity studies (spark ablation)
Particle characterization techniques

Genome Stability

Comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis)
     - Standard and enzyme-modified versions
     - High-throughput formats
     - Applications in cells, whole blood, and tissues)
     DNA repair capacity assays
     - Base excision repair (BER)
     - Nucleotide excision repair (NER)
Micronucleus assay (chromosomal damage)
yH2AX staining (DNA double-strand breaks)
DNA adduct analysis
     - LC-MS–based approaches
     - Gel electrophoresis–based methods)
Telomere length analysis
Mitochondrial DNA damage and copy number analysis

Molecular Biology & Cellular Signaling 

Standard molecular biology assays
     - PCR / qPCR
     - Western blot
     - ELISA
Intracellular signaling pathway analysis
     - Inflammation (e.g. NF-kB, AP-1)
     - Oxidative stress pathways
     - Mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy
Autophagy and mitochondrial function analyses
Redox biology assays
     - Antioxidant enzyme activity
     - Oxidative stress read-outs
Cytochrome P450 enzyme activity assays (e.g. CYP1A1 / EROD)
AhR-CALUX reporter gene assay

Nutritional Biochemistry and Digestion & Effect-Based Analysis

INFOGEST static in vitro digestion models
     -Simulation of oral, gastric, and intestinal phases
     - Assessment of protein digestibility and peptide release

Metabolomics & Chemical Analysis 

LC-HRMS–based metabolomics
HPLC with fluorescence detection
Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis
     -  High-resolution GC-Orbitrap-MS
     - Targeted and non-targeted workflows
Sorptive extraction techniques (HiSorb(tm))
Thermal desorption–GC-MS
Time-resolved VOC emission profiling
VOC analysis in complex matrices
     -  Biological samples
     -  Environmental samples
     -  Materials
Integrated sampling, enrichment, and accurate-mass identification
Calculation of protein quality indices (e.g., DIAAS-related metrics)
Analysis in food matrices, digesta, and biological samples
Spectrophotometric quantification assays for:
     - Phytates
     - Tannins
     - Total phenolics
Assessment of nutrient–antinutrient interactions

Imaging, Microscopy & Spectroscopy

Live-cell imaging platforms
Advanced imaging modalities
     -  Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (cerebral blood flow)

In vivo Models & Physiology 

Animal models of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia
Cardiovascular phenotyping
     -  Blood pressure monitoring
     - Arterial stiffness and remodeling
Cerebral blood flow and neurovascular coupling assessment
Brain microvessel isolation and characterization

Vascular Function & Hemodynamics 

Wire myography (arterial contractility and endothelial function)

Bioinformatics & Data Integration

Automated image analysis (2D & 3D)
Machine-learning–based image quantification
Bioinformatic pipelines for large (epi)genetic datasets
Supervised and unsupervised machine learning approaches for large data sets
Metabolomics-based machine learning analysis

Techniques Using UM Facilities 

Additionally, we offer techniques that are executed using our expertise while leveraging facilities elsewhere at Maastricht University. Although the experiments are carried out by our team, the resources belong to the wider university infrastructure, allowing access to specialized platforms that complement our in-house capabilities.  

Exposure & Inhalation 

Air-liquid interface exposure systems (continuous-flow) 

Metabolomics & Chemical Analysis 

Total amino acid determination

Imaging, Microscopy & Spectroscopy

Automated fluorescent microscopy scanning
Confocal and slide-scanning microscopy
Electron microscopy (EM)
Light-sheet microscopy of cleared tissues
Spectroscopic techniques
     -  Electron spin resonance (ESR)

In vivo Models & Physiology 

Cognitive and behavioral testing
     -  Memory and learning paradigms
In vivo metabolic phenotyping
     -  Hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp
Ultrasound-based microvascular imaging

Vascular Function & Hemodynamics 

Pressure myography (resistance artery structure and function)
Pulse wave velocity measurements
Arterial wall thickness assessment
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for microvascular perfusion

Bioinformatics & Data Integration

Transcriptomic analysis
     -  Bulk RNA-sequencing
     -  Primary cells, tissues, and microvessels