Development, qualification, validation and application of the neutral red uptake assay in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells using a VITROCELL® VC10® smoke exposure system

The VITROCELL® VC10® provided consistent generation and delivery of whole smoke; exposure-related changes in in vitro cytotoxicity were observed with reproducible IC50 values; comparative analysis showed that the heat-not-burn cigarette was significantly (P < 0.001) less cytotoxic than the 3R4F combustible cigarette, consistent with the lower levels of chemical constituents liberated by primarily-heating the cigarette versus burning.