PRESENTATION
The biophysic platform offers a Biacore T200 instrument from Cytiva (former GE Healthcare Life Sciences) for characterizing biomolecular interactions via Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) detection.
SPR is an optical technique that measures changes in the refractive index on a metal surface, enabling real-time, label-free detection of biological molecules. This technology facilitates the study of interactions between partners and the determination of kinetic constants of association and dissociation (kon, koff), affinity constants (KD), and thermodynamic constants (ΔH, ΔS).
The method involves a biosensor onwhich a ligand is immobilized; the binding of an analyte is measured during its injection through a microfluidic system with a continuous buffer flow over the biosensor surface. The response is recorded in real-time (sensorgram) and is directly proportional to the mass density of the bound biomolecules (1000 RU ≈ 1 ng/mm² ≈ 10 mg/mL).
This technique is applicable to characterizing molecular interactions involving small molecules and various classes of biological macromolecules, including proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids.
ACCESS, LOCATION, BOOKING, RATES, AND CONTACTS
Access
The SPR platform is available to:
- Academic Users: Access modalities (service access, autonomous use, or collaboration) are defined based on the involvement of platform staff.
- Industrial Users: Services are provided on a quotation basis.
CHANGES FROM JULY 2026: Access to SPR instrument is restricted to trained users registered before 2026.
Tariffs
Access tariffs are available for consultation here.
Rates are exclusive of tax (excluding VAT) and are charged per day of use, subject to annual review.
Prices include access to the platform’s instruments, the equipment and specific biacore plastic consumables.
Specific consumables such as sensorchips must be provided by the user.
Any additional consumables supplied by the platform will incur extra charges.
Upon request, a quotation can be provided.
Location
The SPR platform is located on the EPN campus in Grenoble, within the IBS building, room 426.
External users must obtain authorization to access the EPN campus; please contact platform staff before your visit.
Accommodation at the EPN campus Guest House can be arranged at the user’s expense; contact platform staff for assistance.
Use of the Platform
CHANGES FROM JULY 2026: Access to SPR instrument is restricted to trained users registered before 2026.
Registered Users
Trained and registered users can book directly after checking the booking schedule.
Availability and Reservation
Biophysic Platform
Institute of Structural Biology – UMR 5075 (CNRS-CEA-UJF)
71 Avenue des Martyrs
CS 10090
38044 Grenoble Cedex 9
France
Email: biophysics.facility@ibs.fr
GETTING STARTED GUIDE
A usage guide for the Biacore T200 is available for download here (pdf).
WHAT TO BRING FOR EXPERIMENTS
You need
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- Running buffer(s).
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- Ligand samples at the highest concentrations (to be diluted in immobilization buffers).
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- Analyte samples at the highest concentrations (to be diluted in running buffers).
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- Regeneration buffers, if known.
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- Sensorchips.
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- Calibrated pipettes and tips.
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- Necessary plastic tubes (e.g., Falcon, Eppendorf).
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- Relevant previous data and/or protocols.
Ordering consumables and kits
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- Users must provide consumables specific to their experiments.
Consumables must be ordered from Cytiva/Biacore (https://www.cytivalifesciences.com/en/us/about-us/our-brands/biacore)..
No other biosensors will be accepted.
- Users must provide consumables specific to their experiments.
WHAT THE PLATFORM PROVIDES
The SPR platform offers essential and common supplies for experiments on the Biacore T200, including:
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- The Biacore T200 instrument.
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- 4°C refrigerator and -20°C freezer for sample storage.
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- Vortex mixer and benchtop centrifuge.
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- P20/Tween-20 and BSA (added to experimental buffers).
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- Immobilization kits for amine coupling methods.
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- Regeneration scouting kit.
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- Plastic tubes for Biacore T200.
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- For external users: If you cannot bring laboratory supplies, you may borrow pipettes, tips, and other plastic or glass items from our laboratory.
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- Filtered water solutions and instrument maintenance support.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I NEED?
The time needed to fully characterize your interaction depends on your biological system, experimental strategy, optimization process, and potential challenges. The duration can range from a few days to several weeks.
Below are estimated time requirements for traditional steps:
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- Starting sequence: 20 to 30 minutes.
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- Immobilization scouting: 30 to 60 minutes per ligand sample.
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- Immobilization by amine coupling: 45 to 60 minutes per sample.
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- Secondary capture: 20 to 30 minutes per sample.
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- Pilot analyses: Half a day to several days, depending on the number of sample injections, concentration gradients, and the testing of contact and dissociation times, flow rates, and regeneration conditions.
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- MCK (Multi-Cycle Kinetics)/Steady-State Analysis: 2 to 5 hours or more, depending on kinetics and concentrations.
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- Cleaning and Stop sequence: 30 minutes.
COMPUTING
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- The platform provides computers dedicated to controlling each instrument, implementing experiments, acquiring and recording data, and conducting data analysis.
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- All computers are equipped with regularly updated software essential for data monitoring and analysis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND VALORIZATION
Collaborations
For collaborative projects, platform staff must be listed as co-authors in peer-reviewed journals and other communications where SPR or BLI data are presented, as per the terms agreed upon prior to the project.
Service Access
Users must acknowledge the platform and its staff in all publications or communications that include SPR or BLI data. Please include the following acknowledgment text:
« This work used the platforms of the Grenoble Instruct-ERIC center (ISBG; UAR 3518 CNRS-CEA-UGA-EMBL) within the Grenoble Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB), supported by FRISBI (ANR-10-INBS-0005-02) and GRAL, financed within the University Grenoble Alpes graduate school (Écoles Universitaires de Recherche) CBH-EUR-GS (ANR-17-EURE-0003). The authors acknowledge the SPR/BLI platform scientific responsible, Jean-Baptiste REISER, Ph.D., for his help and assistance. »
QUALITY
As part of its commitment to continuous improvement, the SPR technical platform adheres to a quality management system that has been ISO 9001:2015 certified since June 2011.
