Corning Introduces New Nanofiber Cell Culture Products

Corning Introduces New Nanofiber Cell Culture Products

April 17, 2007

96-Well plate and 100mm tissue-culture dish featuring
Ultra-Web(TM) synthetic surface technology enable in-vivo,
cell-culture research and drug discovery applications


    LOWELL, Mass., April 17 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Corning
Incorporated (NYSE: GLW), a global supplier of scientific
laboratory and drug discovery products for more than 90
years, announced on April 12 that it has introduced four
new products featuring the Ultra-Web(TM) synthetic surface
technology. This breakthrough 3-D nanofiber technology,
which was gained through a recent agreement with SurModics,
Inc. (Nasdaq: SRDX) and Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI),
will be applied to two of Corning's 96-well microplates and
two 100mm tissue-culture dishes. Customers will now have
access to products that mimic in vivo cell growth
conditions, leading to improved outcomes in cell culture,
cell-based bioassays and other in vitro-related
applications. 

    (Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200612081746.jpg
)

    Ultra-Web synthetic surfaces create a culturing
substrate that resembles structural components within the
basement membrane or extracellular matrix and offer cells
in vivo-like fibrillar topographies that, unlike biological
coatings, are more stable, more consistent from lot to lot
and animal component free. This technology also enables
more reproducible and biologically meaningful results in an
easy-to-use, cost-effective and time-efficient manner for
cell research and cell-related applications.

    "Our customers with cell-biology research and
cell-based, high-throughput screening (HTS) applications
for drug discovery and development have been looking to us
for products that better mimic in vivo cell growth
conditions," said Michael McFarland, business
technology director, Corning Life Sciences. "The
introduction of our new 96-well microplates and
tissue-culture dishes clearly demonstrates our commitment
to developing innovative technologies that exceed our
customers' demands and provide them with the solutions they
need to maximize results." 

    Corning Life Sciences signed an agreement with
SurModics and Donaldson in May 2006, through which it now
provides worldwide strategic marketing, manufacturing and
distribution of nanofiber cell culture products utilizing
the Ultra-Web(TM) synthetic surface technology. (See
related release: SurModics and Donaldson Announce Strategic
Marketing and Distribution Relationship with Corning Life
Sciences; May 9, 2006) 96-Well microplates and 100mm tissue
culture dishes are the first products resulting from the
strategic partnership, with others in development.

    Corning Life Sciences helps customers succeed by
providing innovative, high-quality products and services in
the areas of polymer science, biochemistry and molecular
biology, glass melting and forming, surface modification
and characterization science. Corning cell-culture and
assay products include tissue culture dishes, 6- and
24-well multiwell plates, 96-, 384- and 1536-well
microplates, roller bottles, flasks and CellSTACK(R)
culture chambers. The business' dedication to quality,
technology and innovation has enabled it to produce a
comprehensive line of plastic laboratory disposables and
reusable glassware that exceeds American Standard Testing
Method (ASTM) standards for life science research.

    The 96-well microplates and 100mm tissue culture dishes
became available in April 2007 in two versions ¨C a
synthetic, untreated nanofiber surface and one with a
proprietary, polyamine surface modification. Corning will
continue to develop new products utilizing the
Ultra-Web(TM) synthetic surface technology. For additional
information on Corning Life Sciences products, please
contact a technical service representative toll free in the
United States at 1-800-492-1110, ([phone]
internationally or visit
http://www.corning.com/lifesciences .

    About Corning Incorporated

    Corning Incorporated ( http://www.corning.com ) is the
world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on
more than 150 years of materials science and process
engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone
components that enable high-technology systems for consumer
electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications
and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates
for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic
substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems;
optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for
telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug
discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass
solutions for a number of industries including
semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and
metrology.

    Ultra-Web is a U.S. registered trademark of Donaldson
Company, Inc.






    For more information, please contact:

     Lydia Lu
     Tel:   [phone]-1900
     Email: [e-mail]

     Pamela D'Arcangelo
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]