Cell culture facilities

Nano to Micro/Macro (in vitro assays and cell analysis)

The cell culture facility comprises of two fully equipped cell and stem-cell culture laboratories, a biochemical and molecular biology laboratory, a chemistry lab for sample preparation and imaging instruments (eg. SEM, epifluorescence and Confocal microscope and non-linear microscope). In the Ultrafast Laser Micro and Nano Processing Laboratory (ULMNP) of IESL-FORTH, the objective is to investigate the biocompatibility of laser-engineered biomimetic 3D scaffolds fabricated on hard metallic and soft polymeric materials, exhibiting different micro/nano topographies and surface energies and to understand the cell-biomaterial interaction under static and dynamic (under flow) culture conditions, in vitro. In the Tissue Engineering – Regenerative Medicine and Immunoengineering Lab (TERMIM Lab) of IESL-FORTH, the research is focused on understanding the physicochemical mechanisms that take place at the interface between cells and biomaterials in micro / nano scale and the examination of the potential medical and/or clinical applications of optimized artificial tissue scaffolds.

In general, the cell culture facility has the equipment, protocols and assays for the following research activities:

In-vitro cytotoxicity testing of metallic and polymeric surfaces
In-vitro cytocompatibility studies of various cells (eg. mouse neuronal cell lines, mouse neural stem cells, mouse mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, human cancer cell lines) on the above biomaterial architectures/patterns as shown in Figure 1.
Proteomic and biomolecular profiles of cell lines adhered on bio-based surfaces
Study of the effect of flow-induced shear stress on cells adhered on biomaterial surfaces
Ca⁺² imaging, electrical activity and live imaging of neural stem cells and neuronal cell lines interacting with bio-based materials via a non-linear microscopy system
Antibacterial testing of biomimetic surfaces and structured materials
Βiophysical studies of model lipid membranes

provided at NFFA-Europe laboratories by:

CNR-IOM @TS

Italy

CSIC-ICMAB

Spain

CIC biomaGUNE

Spain

FORTH

Greece

Instruments datasheets

CIC biomaGUNE

Spain

cell culture facilities

provided at NFFA-Europe laboratories by:

CNR-IOM @TS

Italy

CSIC-ICMAB

Spain

CIC biomaGUNE

Spain

FORTH

Greece

Also consider

Structural & Morphology Characterization

SEM Scanning Electron Microscopy

In SEM a beam is scanned over a sample surface while a signal from secondary or back-scattered electrons is recorded. SEM is used to image an area of the sample with nanometric resolution, and also to measure its composition, crystallographic phase distribution and local texture.

Nano to Micro/Macro

LCI Live cell imaging

The “Live Cell Imaging” facility is equipped with advanced imaging microscopy techniques (based on two- or multi- photon excitation), which are appropriate for the all-optical minimally invasive, high-resolution (<500nm), deep (>500μm) monitoring of living cells and tissues for long periods of time.

Structural & Morphology Characterization

NLM Nonlinear microscopy

NLM takes advantage of tightly focused ultra-short laser pulses (fs) to excite non-linear optical phenomena like Second Harmonic Generation, Third Harmonic Generation, Two-Photon and Three-photon excited Fluorescence. Along with laser raster-scanning of the sample, non-linear imaging microscopy of large areas is accomplished within seconds.

Structural & Morphology Characterization

CM Confocal microscopy

Confocal microscopy (CM) is an optical imaging technique that creates a virtual plane or slice, many micrometers deep within the analyzed sample. Compared to conventional microscopy, it provides fine detailed images of higher quality and with more contrast. In addition, virtual 3-D images of the analyzed microstructure can be obtained.

Structural & Morphology Characterization

TEM Transmission Electron Microscopy

In TEM/Scanning TEM (STEM) high energy electrons incident on ultra-thin samples, allow imaging, diffraction, electron energy loss spectroscopy and chemical analysis of solid materials with a spatial resolution on the order of 1-2 Å. Samples must have a thickness of a few tens of nanometres and are prepared in sample preparation laboratory.