molecular binding assays
 protein-protein interaction
 enzyme activity
 enzyme kinetics
 receptor-ligand binding
 DNA hybridisation
 calcium determination
 cell-based assays

 

Principle of operation
The fluorescence readers of the NanoScan series are multi-functional microplate readers for a broad range of advanced measuring tasks in research and in high-throughput screening. Besides the well-known methods "Fluorescence intensity" , "time-resolved fluorescence" and "Luminescence" especially the new methods "fast time-resolved fluorescence" and "Fluorescence lifetime" offer a way to develop robust homogeneous assays and to utilise these assays in HTS.

Laser-induced fluorescence
The realisation of an innovative laser concept resulted in a robust, durable and flexible light source, that suits optimally to time-resolved fluorescence measurements, but overcomes the limitations of other laser systems to single wavelengths. By a simply replacing of one laser module with another virtually every 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 detection of fluorescence
Optimised emission filters enable the user to measure sample fluorescence in all plate formats highly sensitive in top-reading mode. Laser modules and emission filters for the detection of almost all fluorescence markers are available. A sophisticated optical apparatus focuses excitation light into the microplate wells, thus eliminating crosstalk problems. To measure FRET or other double-labelled assays with one excitation and two different emission wavelengths efficiently and with low sample impact, an optional second measuring channel may be implemented.

Measuring fluorescence lifetime
The short-pulse laser forms the basis to measure fluorescence lifetimes - but the core of the instrument is a highly developed electronic concept. It permits to measure lifetimes over a range of 1 ns to 20,000 ns without reducing sensitivity or increasing measuring time and thus overcomes the limitations of other techniques such as time-correlated single photon counting.
For lanthanide-based luminescence assays the optionally integrated TRF mode offers both to measure the gated luminescence intensity (TRF) and the luminescence lifetime up to the range of 1 ms.

Nano-TRF (fast gated fluorescence)
Besides the measurement of fluorescence lifetimes this mode offers a "gated" fluorescence measurement. Analogous to the well-known TRF measuring method, where from a defined instant after the excitation impulse (typical 50 µs) for a defined period (typical 100 µs ... 500 µs) intensity is measured, by mouse-click you may select an arbitrary measuring period between 0 ns and 20,000 ns with arbitrary delay to the laser pulse. The Nano-TRF technique has proven its advantages at suppressing background (compound) fluorescence signal contributions in homogeneous assay formats in High Throughput Screening.

WindowsTM based software
All instrument functions of the NanoScan readers are controlled by the user-friendly WindowsTM software Mikrowin 2000 by Mikrotek GmbH. From a database you may select plate formats of various suppliers. The software facilitates to measure at several positions within one well and to 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.