Barcelona Stem Cell Bank

hPSC generation and characterization

The BLC-B offers services of generation and characterization of hiPSC lines, including administrative support for the authorisation of projects involving the use and /or the generation of hiPSC. hiPSC can be generated from different cell types such as fibroblasts, keratinocytes, peripheral blood cells, umbilical cord blood and , tumour and urine cells among others. We offer integrative and non- integrative reprogramming methodologies including retrovirus, lentivirus, Sendai virus, episomal factors and mRNA techniques. The BLC-B has cell lines of patients affected by more than 20 diseases, which can be used as models of disease. More information and fees.

The BLC-B regularly organizes courses and workshops on the management of hPSCs including:

• Cultivation and handling of hPSC
• Cryopreservation
• Characterization and differentiation

Researchers requesting lines may request technical support for the handling of hPSC.

The resources available are the highest level in its category, with dedicated laboratories of new construction / installation, and expert staff.

Laboratories equipped for the generation, culture and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells consists of work surfaces, walls and non-porous floor, smooth and easy to clean and an access area that allows changing clothes for people who access the cultivation area.

The Stem Cell Bank of Barcelona has 2 culture rooms and cryogenics room that have the following equipment:

General culture room

• 3 microbiological and cytostatic safety cabinets (Nuaire)
• 1 laminar flow cabinet for embryo manipulation with 2 stereomicroscopes (KSystems)
• 1 inverted microscope with attached micromanipulators and laser system (Olympus)
• 1 inverted microscope (Brand)
• 8 incubators CO2 (Revco, Heracell and Binder)
• 1 centrifuge (Beckman Coulter)
• 1 desktop centrifuge (Eppendorf)

Culture room for quarantine

• 1 microbiological and cytostatic safety cabinet (Telstar)
• 1 laminar flow cabinet for embryo manipulation with coupled stereomicroscope (K-Systems)
• 1 inverted microscope with attached micromanipulators and laser system (Olympus)
• 4 CO2 incubators (Revco and Binder )
• 1 centrifuge (Beckman Coulter)
• 1 desktop centrifuge (Eppendorf)
• 1 inverted microscope (Olympus)
• 1 fluorescence inverted microscope (Leika)

Both rooms are physically separated, so that the routine activity of the BLC-B may include quarantine periods for the lines deposited therein, and the possibility of physical separation as a containment barrier for experimental incidents against safety and security.

Cryogenics room

• 1 freezer at -80ºC (Revco)
• 1 LN2 Storage Unit for cell storage (CBS)
• 1 programmable freezer (Freeze Control)

You can see the complete listing of stem cell lines on the P-CRM [C] page: link.

Our current QC process include tests for:

• Purity- Mycoplasma contamination
• Identity- Short Tandem Repeats (STR)
• Stability- Karyotyping
• Stemness: absence of reprogramming factors, pluripotent gene expression, and differentiation capacity

How to request hPSC lines

Requests for cell lines must first be authorized by an Ethics Committee and Comisión de Garantías para la Donación y Utilización de Células y Tejidos Humanos del Instituto de Salud Carlos III.