​Activities

The cell culture platform combines two dedicated Level 2 laboratories with different activities :

• One laboratory is dedicated to primary cultures and cell lines. It comprises three rooms, one of which is specifically designed for primary cultures that are more fragile and at risk of contamination by cell lines, as well as potential vectors of contamination (cultures from animal tissue).
  

This laboratory is equipped with facilities suitable for the use of viral vectors, including dedicated incubators and safety features.

• The second laboratory is dedicated to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) of human or NHP origin or their derivatives. The platform’s capabilities include amplification, differentiation and banking of iPS cells as well as the cryopreservation of iPSCs and their derivatives.

More specifically, we have expertise in neuronal (cortical and striatal neurons) and glial (astrocytes) differentiation of iPS cells of human and NHP origin, mass banking of neuronal or glial progenitors for pathological modeling or cell therapy purposes, miniaturization of cultures and analyses using 96/384 microplates, neuron-glia co-cultures, production of neuronal spheroids, cellular modeling of neurodegenerative diseases including Huntigton's disease and synucleopathies, and calcium imaging of synaptic activity in individual neurons or neuronal networks.​

​Equipment

Cell culture laboratory L2 dedicated to primary culture and cell lines :

In dynamic confinement (3 depressurized rooms + 1 overpressurized entry airlock).​

• 3 microbiological safety cabinet
  
• 5 incubators (2 dedicated to cells exposed to viruses)
• 1 cytometer
• 1 cell counter
• 2 binocular magnifiers
• 1 Inverted microscope for phase contrast and epifluorescence observation (2)
• 1 microbiological safety cabinet dedicated to sonication of human or animal tissue
• Refrigerated cell centrifuges (2)
• -80°C deep freezer for temporary storage of viral vectors

Cell culture dedicated to pluripotent stem cells :

In dynamic confinement (2 culture rooms, 1 functional analysis room and a vacuum circulation room +1 overpressure entry airlock).

• 8 microbiological safety cabinets
  
• 6 incubators
• Intra-incubator stirrer for organoids and spheroids
• Neon electroporator -80°C deep freezer for storage (particularly chemical libraries)
  

In the context of the BPI France project « Neurolead » between MIRCen, Collège de France and Theranexus, the platform also has a conditional access to functional cellular analysis equipment on fixed or live cells (live imaging).

• Automated microscopy system (2)
• High-throughput kinetic readout system for fluorescent cell imaging   
• Flow cytometer
• Automatic pipetting system​
• Inverted microscopes for phase contrast and epifluorescence observation (1)

Biobank

Non-pressurized cryogenic vessels: RCB600 allowing the storage of ~25 000 of frozen vials at -150°C (nitrogen gas) under alarm. Pressurized liquid nitrogen « feeder » tank of 230 liters connected to RCB600. The autonomy of the RCB600-Feeder system is approximately 3 weeks. 

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