Flow cytometry is a technique used to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of a population of cells or particles. In this process, a sample containing cells or particles is suspended in a fluid and injected into the flow cytometer instrument. The sample is focused to ideally flow one cell at a time through a laser beam, where the light scattered is characteristic to the cells and their components. Cells are often labeled with fluorescent markers so light is absorbed and then emitted in a band of wavelengths. Tens of thousands of cells can be quickly examined and the data gathered are processed by a computer.
Flow cytometry has been around for more than 40 years and allows researchers to harness the power of statistics by analysing large populations of cells using quantitative methods. There have been numerous advances on the traditional technology including imaging flow, spectral flow and benchtop systems that shrink everything down.
Luminex
Luminex imaging flow cytometers are the first instruments to combine the advantages of visual data with unparalleled sensitivity in flow cytometry, using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that excels at detecting fluorescent signals while simultaneously providing multi-color images of every cell acquired in flow.
With detailed analysis of intensity, location, and co-location of probes, Luminex instruments open powerful applications such as apoptosis, cell cycle, co-localisation, internalization, nuclear localisation, shape change and spot counting. IDEAS (Image Data Exploration and Analysis Software) offers powerful tools for high content, statistically robust analysis of images, as well as standard flow cytometry graphing tools and statistics for hundreds of morphological features in addition to intensity.
NanoCellect
NanoCellect moves beyond the traditional flow cytometry thinking of "how many colours and how fast." NanoCellect delivers sterile, portable, intuitive solutions for sorting fragile samples.
NanoCellect is pushing the status quo of flow cytometry to empower biomedical scientists with higher viability cells, no chance of sample-to-sample contamination, and efficient workflows with the WOLF Cell Sorter and N1 Single Cell Dispenser. Benchtop cell sorting. Sterile. Gentle on cells. Easy-to-use.