Isotope Platform

Supported by :

The Isotope Platform in the Pays de la Loire (PLI) is the regional infrastructure for isotope analysis created in 2021 in the framework of the Program "Infrastructure de recherche ligérienne" launched by the Pays de la Loire region  in collaboration with the European Commission.

The PLI brings together complementary analytical tools (equipment, analytical techniques, software) and complementary application‑focused expertise: isotope in environment, authentication, and nutrition–health at CEISAM-Nantes (UMR 6230 CNRS), and isotope in plant biology and agronomy at IRHS-Angers (UMR 1345 INRAe).

The PLI is integrated into the Corsaire platform, the metabolomics-fluxomics division of Biogenouest. It is also worth noting that, at the international level, the PLI maintains close relationships with isotope platforms abroad: the Institute of Science Tokyo (Japan), Caltech (USA), and the Australian National University (Australia). The Nantes site is also part of MétaboHUB, the national excellence infrastructure for metabolomics-fluxomics.

PLI missions

The PLI aims to provide cutting‑edge technological tools and services in isotope analysis and isotopomic approaches (high‑throughput analysis of isotopic profiles and signatures) to academic research teams and industrial partners in the fields of authentication, plant sciences, health, nutrition, ecology, environment, and forensics. Its ambition is to develop advanced isotopomic methods using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) to address the technological challenges encountered in these areas.

The need to explain and optimize biological or chemical processes has led to a growing demand for large‑scale compound‑specific (CSIA) and/or position‑specific (PSIA) isotope analyses.

Service offering

Analytical services

• Bulk isotope analyses (¹³C, ¹⁵N, ²H, ¹⁸O, ³⁴S)
• Compound-specific isotope analyses (¹³C and ¹⁵N) using GC-C-IRMS (amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, organic acids)
• Position-specific isotope analyses (¹³C and ²H) using NMR
• Metabolomic analyses using GC-MS with or without MS/MS fragmentation

R&D services and method development

• Development of new isotopic methods to meet specific needs
• Scientific collaboration on the design and optimization of protocols
• Interpretation of isotopic data and guidance for industrial applications

Training and skills transfer

• Training in isotope analysis and equipment handling
• Customized training sessions tailored to the users’ level (academic or industrial)
• Methodological support for integrating isotopic data into industrial or research projects

Method transfer to implement position‑specific isotope analysis by NMR at a client’s facility

Available equipment

Nantes site: 7 instruments

Angers site: 6 instruments

Access for users

Access conditions

The PLI is open to academic and industrial users, both internal and external to the two sites (Nantes and Angers). Access is granted based on validated scientific projects, with prioritization depending on equipment availability and scientific relevance.

Contact procedure:

• Online form via the website: PLI – CEISAM
• Direct email: ceisam_pli@univ-nantes.fr (Nantes) ; julie.lalande@inrae.fr (Angers)

Requests are centralized and evaluated by the scientific and technical managers to define the analysis plan and assess technical feasibility.

User support

Each project benefits from personalized support provided by the technical and scientific managers:

• Assessment of the request and selection of the appropriate method
• Sample follow‑up and scheduling of analyses
• Interpretation of results and scientific discussion
• Training in instrument use and good analytical practices
• Possible implementation of collaborative R&D projects