UCT at TIAFT 2013

UCT is proud of its support of Forensic Toxicologists and Toxicology groups around the world. The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) is celebrating its 50th year of activity in 2013; and the TIAFT annual meeting is being held on the island of Madeira, Portugal from September 1st through the 6th.  UCT will be exhibiting at this auspicious meeting where many of the major international toxicologists will gather to discuss the latest advances in the field. UCT will be represented by Hocine Omari, one of our International Sales Representatives.  Stop by to learn about our latest applications and products.

UCT Specialties, the manufacturer of the Petrarch line of specialty silanes, continues to find use in the biomaterials field

Research in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A recently published that tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl-1-trichlorosilane (T2492) from UCT Specialties (United Chemical Technologies) was a key component in research to develop a simple 1D submicron, and linear patterned extracellular matrix on a multilayer silicone material.  Specifically, the T2492 was used to adhere via vapor deposition Pluronic F127 blocking agent to a plasma treated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) well. The goal of the work is to create a 1D manufacturing process that is simpler and cheaper than other 1D processes, which require great skill and expensive equipment to manufacture.  If the manufacturing hurdles can be overcome, 1D cell culture environments may offer advantages over currently popular 3D cultures.  Both 1D and 3D environments appear to present similar cellular morphology and behavior patterns.  However, 1D may make the control of external environmental parameters, such as applied mechanical forces, easier for biologists to control than current 3D systems.

UCT Specialties continues to manufacture high quality specialty silanes, reactive silicones, catalysts and coatings for a variety of manufacturing markets.  Coupled with our excellence in the Solid Phase Extraction chromatography markets, this demonstrates UCT Inc.’s ongoing leadership for your silicon related chemistry products

Reference: Dixon AR, Moraes C, Csete ME, Thouless MD, Philbert MA, Takayama S. 2013. One-dimensional patterning of cells in silicone wells via compression-induced fracture.
J Biomed Mater Res Part A 2013;00A:000–000.