Cell Imaging

The Cell Imaging platform, whose members have worked for several years in research teams at I-Stem, puts its experience in particular in cell biology at the service of research teams inside or outside I-Stem. It can thus easily understand and respond to the researchers’ problems, either thanks to the equipment available on site, or by integrating or developing new tools on demand.

The platform, created in 2016, offers imaging techniques from the subcellular level to the whole organoid. It brings together a complete set of equipment grouped around several complementary areas of activity:

1- Photonic Imaging

The photonic imaging pole gathers equipments that allow the imaging of cells, tissues, organoids or embryos on different supports (slide, petri dish, multi-well culture plates, culture flasks). Different imaging modes are available, such as bright field imaging in color (Evox XL Core), epifluorescence (2 Zeiss Observer Z1), or high resolution confocal imaging (Zeiss spinning Disk microscope and Zeiss LSM-880 Airyscan). The equipment also allows to work on fixed or living samples, in standard 2D or multidimensional imaging (3D, live imaging, multiposition, in situ imaging).
Functional imaging studies (Calcium Flow Analysis, Optogenetics, FRAP) can be performed on high resolution microscopes.

2- Quantitative automated imaging

The Quantitative Imaging Center offers automated optical equipment that combines epifluorescence acquisition with high throughput and high content image analysis.
Two high-content imagers (Molecular Devices ImageXpress micro, Cellinsight CX7) coupled to robotic arms allow to scan and analyze up to a dozen multi-well plates according to several possible analysis algorithms. These machines are compatible with pharmacological molecule screening studies.
Two Incucytes imagers (Zoom and S3, Sartorius), installed in dedicated culture incubators, allow in situ monitoring of cell cultures by taking pictures at regular intervals over a period of up to several weeks. These pictures are then processed by quantitative analysis.

Finally, a plate reader FDSS 6000 (Hamamatsu) allows a fast and dynamic acquisition of one or more multi-well plates, coupled with an analysis of the intensity of the observed markings.

3- Analysis workstations

The platform is equipped with several computer analysis stations that complement the machines. In particular, it has a station equipped with IMARIS software for the optimal exploitation of images acquired in photonic imaging.

5- User experience on the Cell Imaging platform

The platform offers different ways of using the equipment depending on the volume of use and the comfort of the users: training users to use the equipment independently, or assisting research teams with complex image acquisition or analysis protocols.