Technology
Take a closer look into Nanolive's patented technologyTomography of a Neuron
Live Cell Holotomography
The Cell Explorer’s technology is unique worldwide and is based on a fundamental patent (US 8,937,722 & EU WO 2011/121523).
It allows determining how light propagates through the cell. By this means, one can measure the cell’s physical properties, i.e. the refractive index (RI). The result is quantitative cell tomography, in vitro without any invasion or sample preparation.
Learn more about our technology in our recent publication:
Cotte Y. et al., Marker-free phase nanoscopy, Nature Photonics, 2013.
Self-Adjusting & Holotomography
The combination of holography and rotational scanning makes Nanolive a revolutionary technology.
Holography offers a unique means to measure cells in their native environment: label-free, non-invasive, manipulation-free, and interference-free. Rotational scanning allows 3D reconstructions, noise robustness, and a resolution far beyond the accepted limit for light.
To achieve optimal results for every measurement, the optics of our technology are completely self-adjusting. It guarantees the best alignment conditions – whatever the environment is.
History of Microscopy
Technical Comparison
| Properties |  |
Standard Fluorescence |
Super resolution Fluorescence | Phase imaging | Electrical impedance | SEM, AFM |
| Preparation | ||||||
| Time |  |
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Simplicity |  |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Cost |  |
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Cell condition |  |
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Observation | ||||||
| Temporal sampling | |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Live Cell Imaging |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
| Training-free | |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Cellular health | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Result | ||||||
| Lateral Resolution | Below 200nm | Down to 250nm | Down to 50nm | 400 – 1000nm | No Image | 5-10nm |
| Image Dimensionality |  |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
| Quantitative | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Comprehensive |  |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Costs | ||||||
| Price (euro) |  |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Sequential Staining
Comparison with fluorescenceStandard Traditional Fluorescent Microscopy
Traditional microscopy is limited by the need of chemical fluorescent molecules reporters in order to visualize the different cell components. The user has to decide prior to experiment which stains he may need to prepare the sample with. The typical time for this procedure is 1-72 hours and just a few stains are possible on the same sample.
Fluorescence
Long sample preparation
Invasive
Indirect measurement of cell’s properties
Expensive reagent
um resolution
2D results
The Nanolive Technology
The Nanolive technology provides a measurement of the Refractive Index distribution within the cell. Therefore, the user can decide after the experiment which cell parts he/she wishes to ‘digitally stain’ in a limitless amount of colours – saving a lot of time and money on reagents. Stain and re-stain the cell over and over again without damaging it.
Nanolive
< 5 min of work
Non-invasive
Direct measurement of cell’s properties
Free digital staining
nm resolution
3D results
Marker-Free Imaging
Comparison with phase imagingTraditional phase microscopy
Nanolive
Example of Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC) during mitosis
Cell projection (outside cell topography)
Total Optical Cell Density (2.5D OCD)
Resolution: 400 – 1000 nm
High noise level
Tomographic Imaging
Physical cell’s height (3D RI distribution)
200 nm resolution
Low noise ratio
Comparison between ESCs (4 & 5) as observed with the two technologies
