March 5, 2020 - Spectradyne's nCS1^TM Adds Value to Flow Cytometry

Recently Spectradyne has heard positive feedback from its customers that also use flow cytometry to quantify extracellular vesicles (EVs) or other particles in biological fluids such as plasma. These customers find value in Spectradyne's Microfluidic Resistive Pulse Sensing (MRPS) for three main reasons worth highlighting:

First, the non-optical detection method used by the nCS1^TM delivers particle concentration and size information that can't be obtained from flow cytometry. Accurately measuring the concentration of biomarkers and therapeutics such as extracellular vesicles, liposomes or synthetic nanoparticles is critical for reducing variability and drawing clear experimental conclusions (see more discussion here). As we've written elsewhere, the nCS1^TM provides more accurate concentration and size measurements of small particles in heterogenous biological samples like serum, cell culture media, and most EV preparations. Using both fluorescence-based flow cytometry and MRPS provides a unique and complete sample analysis that cannot be obtained with flow cytometry alone.

Second, the nCS1^TM provides a fast and easy method for quantifying sample purity. While fluorescence-based flow cytometry can be a powerful technique for counting specifically tagged particles in complex samples, it has difficulty measuring the un-stained particles that may also be present as contaminants in the sample. Orthogonal measurements are important! Measuring just 3 microliters of the same sample with the nCS1^TM delivers the total particle count and size-the missing piece for determining sample purity.

Finally, Spectradyne's technology saves significant time and cost in preparing samples for flow cytometry analysis. Flow cytometry measurements are sensitive to total particle concentration: Coincidence of multiple particles in the beam (known as "swarming") is difficult to detect and can generate incorrect and misleading results. A quick analysis with Spectradyne's nCS1^TM provides the total concentration of particles in the sample-critical information required to ensure the correct dilution factor is chosen for flow cytometry the first time around.

Spectradyne's nCS1^TM delivers accurate concentration and size of particles in diverse biological samples, and by virtue of its non-optical detection method provides new insights into sample composition that cannot be obtained by optical methods such as flow cytometry alone. Learn how you can enhance your flow cytometry analysis here.

Back to table of contents

Please continue to follow our blog as we share insights, technical details, and generally geek-out with you about nanoparticle science!

Email us for more information, or to discuss your particular application directly.