Principle of operation

NanoScan instruments are multi-functional microplate readers for a broad range of fluorescence applications in research and in high-throughput screening.  The NanoScan series offers completely new measuring  technologies to the well-established Fluorescence Intensity, Fluorescence Polarization, Time-Resolved Fluorescence, and Luminescence, detection methods.  Fast Time-Resolved Fluorescence (Nano- and Micro-TRF), and Fluorescence Lifetimes (FLT) offer new ways to develop robust homogeneous assays and to use these assays in HTS.

Laser-induced fluorescence

The NanoScan's innovative dual-laser concept provides a robust, durable, and flexible, light source that is optimal for TRF measurements, without the limitation of single wavelengths present in other laser-based instruments.  By simply replacing a small, inexpensive, laser module with another, virtually any excitation wavelength between 337 nm und 785 nm may be selected within seconds.  The "Filter-Selection Guide" provides an overview over optimal filter combinations of common fluorescence labels.

Sensitive fluorescence detection

The sophisticated dichroic optical apparatus focuses dye-laser light into the wells of any format microplate without crosstalk excitation.  Optimised emission filters allow very sensitive measurements  in either a single detection channel, or simultaeously in dual detection channels. Laser modules and filter cubes are available for essentailly any fluorophore.

The optional second measuring channel may be implemented to measure FRET or other double-label assays with one excitation and two emission wavelengths with minimal sample impact.

Measuring fluorescence lifetime

The short-pulse laser is the basis for fluorescence lifetime measurements, but the main innovation of the NanoScan series is a highly developed electronic design for single laser pulse digitizing.  This electronic concept allows complete lifetimes to be measured from a single laser pulse over a range of 1 ns to 20,000 ns, without reducing sensitivity or increasing measuring time, thereby overcomming the limitations of time-correlated single photon counting and box-car avaraging.

For lanthanide-based luminescence assays the optional integrated TRF mode offers measuring of both time-gated luminescence intensity (TRF) and the luminescence lifetime up to the range of 1 ms.

Nano-TRF (fast gated fluorescence)

The well-known time-gated techniques used for Europium and other lanthanide chelates involve a defined delay after the excitation flash (typically 50 µs) after which the emission signal is integrated for a defined period (typically 100 µs - 500 µs).   The NanoScan allows analagous measurements to be made with far greater time-gating flexibility (0 ns to 20,000 ns), which we call Nano-TRF.  The Nano-TRF technique can dramatically enhance performance by suppressing background signal contribution in homogeneous assays in High Throughput Screening.

Windows^TM based software

The NanoScan is controlled by the user-friendly Windows^TM software called Mikrowin by Mikrotek. The software allows multiple measurements at several positions within one well and average over inhomogeneous sample distributions. It provides manifold methods and functions to analyse measured data such as end point, kinetics and fluorescence lifetime determination. Besides that, convenient methods for statistic data analysis are provided. Recorded data may be exported for further processing or archiving. A specially developed driver is capable of automatic lifetime analysis and calculation in the FLT measuring mode.

Integration with automatic plate handling systems.

The NanoScan readers can be integrated into automatic plate handling systems.