Nanoparticle Size Analyzer

Here are some beneficial features of Envision NTA.

Advanced optical design: Envision is designed as a sensitive imaging system using light sheet forming optics. This advanced, high-performance optical design provides a tightly formed light sheet, where all the laser is focused precisely into the measurement volume, matching the focal depth of the observation optics. This provides a high signal-to-noise image, allowing the use of a more sensitive sCMOS camera and providing enhanced sensitivity, combined with an adjustable laser power to further reduce background noise and reduce photo-bleaching of fluorophores. Envision NTA offers direct, real-time visualization of individual particles in suspension for analysis by various methods, such as Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) approved as per ISO 19430:2024 and ASTM E2834-12. The measurable particle size ranges between 10nm and 1000nm, depending on the sample type and laser selection.

Breakthrough lowest limit of detection: Envision NTA offers a superior signal-to-noise ratio, facilitating measurement of extremely small particles, which was not possible using traditional NTA analyzers. While the lower size detection limit varies with material refractive index, the minimal noise in imaging enables precise tracking of particles even with weak scattering properties. This allows measurement of the full-size range of extracellular vesicles (EV) or exosomes, smaller-sized liposomes and drug delivery nanoparticles, or smaller viruses. Envision NTA offers a wide field of view and fast processing to acquire and analyze typically 1000 particles in ~ 1 minute. The minimum sample quantity is 200μl at 10^6 particles/ml with a pH range of 2-12. The sample volume analyzed during each measurement is approximately 40nL, depending on duration and field of view settings.

Fluorescence stability: Envision NTA can be used to measure the smallest and dimmest particles, thanks to the sensitivity of its optical system that allows low laser intensity. This improves the stability of even photo-sensitive fluorescent labels, and ensures dependable measurement of all fluorescent samples.​​ Reducing laser intensity for fluorescence-mode NTA measurements means that fluorophores are only minimally bleached. In most other systems, fluorescent particles exhibit short lifespans of a few seconds. On the other hand, in Envision, the particles exhibit a lifespan of 10 seconds to even a few minutes, which enables researchers to observe the sample for a fairly long time.

Extended dynamic range: The lower limit of Envision NTA can be extended while retaining the larger particle measurement capability. It enables the measurement of large sample sizes of different materials. The optical system enables optimizing the conditions, while retaining a sharp and clear image, for a very wide range of sample types. A carefully designed vibration isolation system eliminates environmental factors from affecting results in the larger size ranges. Envision NTA applies Brownian motion for quantification in terms of measuring the size and concentration of particles in scattering or fluorescence modes.

Ease of use and reliability: The Envision nanoparticle size analyzer is easy to use, hassle-free, and efficient. Sample is loaded with a pipette, thus avoiding drips and bubbles commonly seen with syringe-loaded systems. The sample and fluid path stays sealed, avoiding dust and bubble contamination. Engineering a fluidics system avoids dead space for bubbles or sample carryover. The built-in sample pump and automated SOPs allow fast loading of the sample and thorough rinses in between. It also ensures consistent flow speeds for measuring a large volume. Efficient cleaning cycles eliminate the need for frequent cell disassembly or cleaning procedures.

Structurally robust design: The components in Envision NTA are selected based on specification and design and sourced from selected vendors in our network. This ensures robust components, long-term reliability, and minimal cost of servicing, along with an overall robust structure. Envision NTA can operate in a temperature range from 5°C to 45°C with 85% humidity (non-condensing).

Robust Hardware: Envision main unit is equipped with an optical system, a sample cell assembly, one or more co-aligned lasers, and a sample pump. It offers a wide field of view, broad concentration range and measurement under flow or multiple sub-volumes under stop-flow mode. This NTA comes with temperature-controlled and output-stabilized laser modules for consistent, reliable, and reproducible results. It comes with a CMOS camera with a 40 fps frame rate. The fluorescence mode option is controlled by software.

Software support: The software is designed based on user workflow and helps automate the user-dependent variables, leading to improved throughput and repeatability. We provide software that can be pre-configured on your PC and it enables communication via USB cables. You can get fully customizable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on your samples or applications. The software allows for a thorough data analysis in scatter and/or fluorescence mode. When the scatter from one laser is weak enough for detection, the software uses data from the higher laser power to track the particle. It works efficiently regardless of particle size distribution profiles and concentration.

Applications

Envision NTA has been proven to be clearly exceptional compared to any previous NTA instruments used in various research applications. Here are some application areas of our Envision nanoparticle tracking analysis system, especially in medical and scientific research.

• Extracellular vesicles: Our nanoparticle tracking analysis systems provide precise characterization of exosomes, the 30-150 nm extracellular vesicles that play crucial roles in intercellular communication. Some of the application segments include exosome characterization or concentration analysis, size distribution profiling, and research applications in cancer biomarker discovery, neurodegenerative diseases, and regenerative medicine, among others.

• Exosome size analysis: Our NTA analyzers characterize the full spectrum of extracellular vesicles which find applications in various segments of scientific research such as to study single-particle resolution for accurate size measurements, real-time visualization of particle movement, mixed EV samples from mixed biological samples, and detection of micro-vesicles, with a size of 100-1000 nm, that shed from cell membranes during activation or stress.

• General nanoparticle concentration analysis: Our Envision NTA finds applications across industries such as pharmaceutical, food & beverage, environmental monitoring, and material science for an extensive nanoparticle concentration and size analysis. Especially in the pharmaceutical sector, it is used in analyzing nano formulations containing liposomes and solid lipid as well as polymeric nanoparticles.

• Virus counting/concentration: This is one of the crucial application areas of our Envision NTA in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. Virus counting and concentration analysis is crucial in verifying sizes of engineered viral particles, vaccine development, viral load monitoring, and gene therapy applications.