Fast Fluidic Exchange (FFeX) is the latest microfluidic technology from Lunaphore – a company transforming cancer research with in situ tissue analytics. Their novel microfluidic chip is based on FFeX technology that, when clamped against a regular glass slide, forms a low-volume chamber for the user to incubate tissue samples and perform in situ staining.
Speed sets FFeX apart from its competitors, with protocols running 10 times faster than standard techniques – reducing reagent diffusion times and increasing reaction speed. This is made possible through LabSat® – a single-slide automated staining tool based on microfluidic technology. Thanks to precision fluidics, LabSat® offers many benefits. Besides rapid turnaround, short incubation times contribute to tissue preservation – even when performing multiplex protocols – which leads to high-quality staining results. Furthermore, an active reagent flow circulates inside the chamber to ensure high staining uniformity. Finally, the system is fully open; users can load their reagent of choice onto the instrument, including any off-the-shelf, label-free primary antibodies. This is all made possible by a compact, single-slide staining tool in reach of small- and medium-sized laboratories.
LabSat® is designed for research laboratories that are not currently automated – enabling them to develop automation and gain independence from core facilities. That’s not to say that other laboratories can’t benefit as well – it is particularly useful for those that require rapid results for few samples without disrupting their high-throughput workflow.
Lunaphore aims to democratize its robust automation, equipping laboratories with a tool that allows them to rapidly access clinically relevant data and accelerate cancer research. “I was extremely impressed with the quality of results we achieved with Lunaphore’s technology,” says Spencer Watson, postdoctoral fellow in the Johanna Joyce Laboratory at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. “It would normally take us two days to perform a five-color immunofluorescence tissue staining, but with Labsat® it took us only 30 minutes.”
Cancer is one of the most burdensome diseases in the world, requiring constant support and innovation from the industry. With Lunaphore’s dedicated focus on immuno-oncology research applications, its FFeX technology has great potential for wider application.
LabSat® is for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
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