Radioactivity technical platform
The radioactivity technical platform of the Institute for Health Research of the University of Nantes (IRS-UN) is open to research units, and more particularly to health-related research units, to internal or external training courses at the University of Nantes and to companies (under agreement).This radioactivity platform offers 10 operating rooms allowing the use of radioelements in working conditions in compliance with regulations and radiation protection rules. In this respect, an authorization is issued by the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).
The principal experiments are related to medical research: oncology, immunotherapy and metabolism. The sources used are unsealed liquid sources with relatively low activity.
Radioactive methods show a higher sensitivity and reproducibility of results than commercial tests, which are more interesting. The IRS-UN's radioactivity technical platform works in collaboration with :
- the ARRONAX cyclotron for the production of radioelements (copper-64 and astatine-211)
- the SUBATECH laboratory / IMT Atlantique
Know how
Accompaniment of users for good handling practices in radioactivity and the use of special equipment.
The fields of our know-how are varied :
The fields of our know-how are varied :
- molecular biology: protein labelling (32P, 35S, 64Cu, 125I, 111In, 177Lu, 211At ...)
- cell biology: cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, irradiation tests (3H, 51Cr, 213Bi, RX...)
- animal experiments: antibody biodistribution, radioimmunotherapy protocols, cholesterol elimination pathway studies, irradiation (125I, 111In, 213Bi, 3H, 14C, RX...).
Types of services
The Radioprotection Service ensures the prevention of risks through :
In addition, users are free from constraints linked to regulations thanks to :
- studying the feasibility of experiments
- training of all new users according to their needs
- dose studies
- specific equipment
- enhanced medical monitoring (passive and internal dosimetry)
In addition, users are free from constraints linked to regulations thanks to :
- the constitution and follow-up of the authorization file
- source management
- waste management
- regulatory periodic inspections
Examples of achievements
Radiolabelling of antibodies, peptides, liposomes
- Determination of the Kd of antibody and/or the number of cellular antigenic sites (Scatchard or Lindmo method)
- Tests for stability, immunoreactivity, toxicity, encapsulation
- Biodistribution of antibodies
- Study of intestinal cholesterol efflux, VLDL clearance
- Graft-versus-host cellular cytotoxicity study, ADCC tests
- Nucleic acid hybridization followed by protein expression
- Study of the effect of fractional X-ray irradiation
- X-ray irradiation before hematopoietic cell injections
- Induction of DNA breaks by X-rays
- Hypoxia
- Combination treatment studies
Equipments
Rooms :
- The experimental rooms are dedicated to one radionuclide (or type of radionuclide). They are equipped with all the equipment needed to carry out the experiments. Only small consumables must be provided by the users.
- 1 room dedicated to animal experimentation
- 1 room dedicated to counters
- 1 room with a X-ray generator (Faxitron CP 160)
- Hot cell for low or high energy radionuclides
- Autonomous armoured animal house (24 cages)
- Armoured Microbiological safety cabinet (MSC)
- Microbiological safety cabinet KSP12 double filtration (dedicated 3H)
- Filter fume cupboard (dedicated 3H and 14C)
- Leaded casings for the storage of radioactive wastes
- Radioactivity detectors (portable or fixed)
- Wizard 1480 gamma counter (Perkin Elmer)
- Hidex 300 SL scintillation beta counter (Science Tec)
- Cyclone Plus + Image Eraser (Perkin Elmer)
- MicrobetaJet counter (Perkin Elmer)
- Harvester TOMTEC (Zinsser)
- Real-time autoradiography (BeaQuant, Ai4r)
Applications
- Immunobiology and Immunotherapy
- Radiolabeling of antibodies for imaging and cancer therapy
- Transplantation
- Kinetic and molecular studies of metabolism
- Molecular radiopharmaceuticals
How to contact us
Managers
More information
Software access for new users and/or account modification (adding protocols): please log in here
Partners
Mis à jour le 13 August 2024.