Bioproduction
The Bioproduction platform’s mission is to optimize processes and produce cell banks. It is equipped with several automated systems and ensures the analytical controls of fundamental, translational or clinical research projects. In parallel, it ensures the development of new technologies and methods in order to respond to scientific evolutions in the field.
The automated production platform has existed since 2011 on the premises of I-Stem. It is composed of several elements: a culture system for adherent cells in culture flasks (T75, T175 and triples), a Compact Select (Sartorius Stedim), a distribution system in tubes, the Fill-It (Sartorius Stedim) and a temperature-controlled descent automaton, the Cryomed (ThermoFisher). It ensures maximum viability of the cells during cryogenic storage.
Since its installation, a team is dedicated to its functioning and the activity has increased. In addition to the production of pluripotent cells on a large scale (400 tubes, 2 billion cells), many cell differentiations used in the laboratory have been implemented (MSC, Keratinocytes, RPE, Myoblasts etc). The Compact Select is a flexible system, which allows the production of several different batches in parallel.
All cell banks undergo strict quality control to ensure that they meet the criteria for batch release (health status, genomic stability, phenotype etc).
In addition to the production to the teams, the platform is involved in academic or industrial projects. Thus, at the end of 2019, the platform was equipped with 2 semi-automated culture systems, the CliniMACS Prodigy (Miltenyi Biotech), already used for the clinic. These are closed systems that allow the production of cells according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regulations. These systems allow the development of amplification and differentiation processes that can be easily transferred to a GMP production facility for cell therapy projects. These systems are now validated for large-scale production of pluripotent cells but also for differentiation into different cell types.
The missions of the Bioproduction platform are now to adapt the processes to automation, to support the teams both in optimizing the protocols and in setting up robust analytical controls according to international standards. For this last point, we have entirely dedicated a part of the platform to analytical development, including a strong flow cytometry activity.
Team members
Olivier Chose
Platform Manager (CECS)
Olivier, PhD, graduated from the University of Technology of Compiègne. He specialized in recombinant protein bioproduction and joined I-Stem in 2009. He is in charge of the platform since 2014.
Léa Lesueur
Engineer Bioproduction (CECS)
With a master’s degree in Biology/Toxicology, Léa joined the platform in 2017. She is also in charge of analytical control developments and management of the I-Stem Biobank.
Adeline Beuriot
Engineer Bioproduction (CECS)
With a PhD in Physiology, Physiopathology and Therapeutics, Adeline joined the platform in 2021. She is currently involved in the transfer and development of cell differentiation processes for automation on the Prodigy, notably as part of the Genesis program. She is also involved in the team’s various research and development programs.
Margot Bouquier
Engineer Bioproduction (CECS)
After a Master’s degree in Oncology and Biotherapies, Margot specialized in cell therapies. She joined I-Stem in 2023 to produce cell banks within the Bioproduction platform.
Collaborations
Consortium funded by a PSPC. It gathers 5 partners : Adhara (groupe URGO), l’EFS-ABG (Nantes), Dassault Systèmes & LBTI (CNRS / Université Claude Bernard Lyon1) & I-Stem.
– INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université, UMRS974, INSERM, Institut de Myologie-Faculté de Médecine de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Antoine Muchir
– CNRS UMR 5310 – INSERM U1217, Institut NeuroMyoGène, Université de Lyon, Arnaud Jacquier, Laurent Shaeffer
– INSERM U955 IMRB UPEC, Créteil, Frederic Relaix
– INSERM U1251, Marseille Medical Genetics, Valérie Delague
Publications
Optogenetically controlled human functional motor endplate for testing botulinum neurotoxins.
05 December 2021
Stem cell research & therapy
The Future of Regenerative Medicine: Cell Therapy Using Pluripotent Stem Cells and Acellular Therapies Based on Extracellular Vesicles.
27 January 2021
Cells
Expression of miRNAs from the Imprinted Locus Signals the Osteogenic Potential of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.
26 November 2019
Cells
Compact Select
Robotic cell culture system (adherent) in flasks (T75, T175 tripleFlasks) using an anthropomorphic arm and several tools (microscope, pipettes…).
2011, INSERM funding, “région IDF”
CliniMACS Prodigy
Semi-automated closed system for adherent cell culture in large flasks (CellSTACK Corning). GMP compliant. 2 systems are installed since the end of 2019.
Fill-It
Automated filling system. It allows the simultaneous opening, filling and closing of a matrix of 96 cryotubes. Each tube has a unique barcode on the bottom to ensure traceability.
Cryomed
Controlled temperature descent system, works with nitrogen and ensures a certain quality of freezing. Installed in 2011, funded by Genopole.
Lecteur VisionMate
Scanner that instantly decodes 2D barcodes from racks of 96 cryotubes to ensure traceability.
MACSQuant 10 & MACSQuant X
Flow cytometers with 3 lasers and the ability to measure up to 10 parameters. Acquisition in 2021 of MACSQUANT X, financed by Genopole.
Countess II
Automated cell suspension counter.