The Challenge:
Almost all materials autofluoresce. That is, they emit lower energy (redder) light when illuminated by higher energy (bluer) light. Although this may not be a problem with bright labels, samples from certain plants, insects, animals and formalin-fixed tissues can be intensely autofluorescent. This unwanted light emission from unlabeled tissues can obscure all but the brightest of signals. Expensive cameras do not necessarily help because they simply capture the autofluorescence more efficiently.

The Solution:
The Nuance™ imaging system employs powerful multispectral imaging technology to virtually eliminate autofluorescence. Otherwise invisible labelled targets then appear very bright against a near black background. Due to the dramatic improvement in signal-to-noise ratio, much smaller or fainter targets can now be detected.

The Tools Used:
Fluorescence optimized Nuance™ imaging module (420-720 nm or 500-950 nm)
Standard workstation computer
Powerful and intuitive acquisition and analysis software

The Difference It Made:
Thanks to Nuance's simple, straightforward design, researchers can now acquire fast, accurate and affordable multispectral analysis with virtually any specimen.

• Erase contrast-robbing autofluorescence
• Simplify and improve FRET experiments
• Enable multicolour immunohistochemical staining
• Optimize fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) imaging
• Unleash quantum-dot-based multiplexing

Separation of Autofluorescence from Quantum-Dot-Immunofluorescence Signals

A - As seen through microscope with standard camera
B - Autofluorescence channel
C - Fluorescence marker
D - Recombined image