Bioplat

The BioPlat platform, under the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, consists of different units working together to offer animal models, organoids, and 3D prints.

Veterinary Unit: Uses animal models applying the 3R criteria in housing, handling, and procedures to improve welfare and results.

Histology and Immunohistochemistry: Performs histological and immunohistochemical characterization of the platform’s biomodels.

Transgenesis and Cryopreservation Unit: Offers generation, genetic manipulation, and preservation of genetically modified mouse lines used as models in biomedical research.

Nanomedicine Unit (UCM): Designs, characterizes physicochemically, validates in vitro (2D and 3D models) and in vivo a wide range of multifunctional nanomaterials for application in therapy, diagnosis (by multimodal molecular imaging), or theranosis of various diseases.

Advanced Optical Microscopy Unit: Mainly provides services in optical microscopy technologies, including experimental design, image capture and analysis, and post-processing of obtained data.
Immunology: Develops antibodies and immunoassays.

Organoids and 3D Models Unit: Generates/characterizes brain organoids and human epidermal equivalents.

Services

SERVICES

• Veterinary Unit

-Ventilated rack for mice in barrier or contained area
-Ventilated rack for hamsters in barrier or contained area
-Conventional rack for two hamsters
-Independent cage for rabbits with conventional status
-Cage for two guinea pigs with conventional status

• Histology and Immunohistochemistry Unit

Processing and preparation of paraffin blocks
Processing and preparation of paraffin blocks for organoids
Paraffin block cutting
H&E staining
Masson’s trichrome staining
Methenamine silver staining
Perls’ staining
PAS staining
Other stains
Bichromatic immunohistochemistry (with polymer, antibody not included)
Simple or double immunofluorescence (antibody not included)

• Transgenesis and Cryopreservation Unit

Cryopreservation of mouse embryos
Embryo transfer in mice
Storage of cryopreserved mouse embryos in N2 tank
Average generation by CRISPR of KO and KI mouse models
Cryopreservation and validation of a mouse line in the form of embryos (3XE, 3xA, 1xC)
Revitalization of a mouse line from frozen embryos (C + 3xF)

• Nanomedicine Unit (UCM)

Nanomaterial
-Design, synthesis, and physicochemical characterization of multifunctional nanovectors (lipidic, metallic, or siliceous)
-Synthesis of lipidic or polymeric nanoparticles by microfluidics
In vivo
-Generation of tumor model (orthotopic and ectopic) by cell inoculation with Matrigel. NOD-SCID mouse line
-IV drug administration
-Monitoring tumor development and therapeutic treatment (tumor volume measurement, body weight, and biochemistry)
-Animal handling for multimodal molecular imaging
-Complete necropsy
-Collection of material for paraffin
-IVIS imaging
-IVIS processing, quantification, and analysis

In vitro (2D/3D)
-2D and/or 3D cell culture
-In vitro toxicity assays (MTT)
-In vitro toxicity assays (Apoptosis)
-Cellular internalization assay of nanodrug: by confocal
-Cellular internalization assay of nanodrug: by TEM
-Cellular internalization assay of nanodrug: by pharmacological competition
-Cell migration assay (Wound Healing)
-Preparation of cells for administration
-Growth of cells for administration
-Hemocompatibility assay: hemolysis
-Protein characterization (SDS-PAGE, WB, Proteomics)
-Protein concentration determination

General
-Report preparation and result summary
-Technical staff
-Responsible/scientific staff
-Technical staff (outside hours)
-Responsible/scientific staff (outside hours)

• Advanced Optical Microscopy Unit

Equipment

-Leica Stellaris spectral and super-resolution confocal microscope (STED)
-Leica TCS SP5 spectral confocal microscope with live cell incubation system
-Live cell fluorescence platform with computational clearing Leica Thunder
-Nanolive holographic tomography imaging microscope
-High Content Screening platform Operetta

Service
-Advice on experimental design and sample preparation (selection of suitable fluorochromes, staining protocols, etc.)
-Data and image management and delivery
-Image and data analysis

• Immunology Unit

-Immunogen design
-Polyclonal antibody production
-Monoclonal antibody production
-Immunization
-Cell fusion, selection, and cloning by limiting dilution
-Hybridoma growth and cryopreservation
-Other selection immunoassays
-Antibody purification
-Antibody labeling
-Antibody sequencing
-Immunoassay design

• Organoids and 3D Models Unit

Brain Organoids
-Scientific and technical advice for brain organoid generation
-Training and teaching in techniques for obtaining and characterizing these cultures
-Generation of brain organoids from hESCs or hiPSCs
-Cellular, molecular, and functional characterization of these organoids. Quality control
-Techniques used: IHC, “whole mount,” electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, RNAseq, single-cell RNAseq, proteomics, and functional analyses
-Other consultations, services, and rates contact

Human Epidermal Equivalents
-Construction of epidermal equivalents from human keratinocytes
-Cellular and molecular characterization of human keratinocytes
-General skin physiology assays (barrier and immune function)
-Toxicological assays on human epidermal equivalents