Azure Sapphire FL Biomolecular Imager with lid open

NEW! Azure Sapphire FL Biomolecular Imager

Designed for flexible choice in detection chemistry and samples, the Sapphire FL brings precise quantitation of nucleic acids and proteins

Unmatched Application Versatility and Performance

laser-based imaging

24-bit Dynamic Range

 

Extended dynamic range allows imaging of both bright and weak bands without experiencing saturation.

5 micron resolution icon

5 Micron Resolution

 

From Western blots and gels, to microscope slides and live animal imaging, the adjustable 5-1000 µm resolution ensures unparalleled sample and application flexibility.

quantity accuracy

Custom Design Lasers and Filters

 

No limits – easily swap lasers and filters to achieve the perfect system to image your sample

Adjustable focus Sapphire FL

Adjustable focus for sample thickness

 

Whether imaging Western blots, gels, 96-well plates, or tissue slides, the adjustable Z-plane ensures optimal focus for your sample.

Key Features

Flexibility with uncompromising performance – From in vitro molecular assays to in vivo imaging

The Sapphire FL is the ultimate biomolecular imager for FLEXIBILITY. With customizable and user-changeable laser and filter modules, the Sapphire FL easily adapts to a lab’s changing needs and advancing research. The Sapphire FL offers customizable and user-changeable optical modules, 5–1000 μm resolution scans, a Z-plane range from -1.0 to +6 mm, 5 anesthesia ports for imaging living animals, chemiluminescence detection through the Chemiluminescence Module, and much more. The new Azure Sapphire FL is the second generation of the ground breaking Azure Sapphire Imager.

Unlimited Laser and Filter Wavelength combinations

The Sapphire FL features a unique, patent-pending design of interchangeable and customizable laser and filter modules, enabling a virtually infinite number of spectral combinations. A broad range of excitation and emission wavelengths, as well as phosphor imaging, are supported.

This versatility permits research-driven, rather than instrument-dictated, experimental design. With the Sapphire FL, the user-exchangeable optical modules (consisting of one laser and one emission filter) ensure there is no need to compromise.

Scientist changing optical modules on the new Azure Sapphire FL
Pick the modules that support your research. Changing the optical modules on the new Sapphire FL is simple and easy. The unique mechanism makes selecting lasers to match your dyes finally possible. Easily swap lasers, filters, and/or entire optical modules in under two minutes to suit the needs of your experiment.
Sapphire FL Applications
The Sapphire FL boasts the widest wavelength range of any biomolecular imaging system with the support of wavelengths between 375 – 900 nm, allowing it to support imaging of Western blots, gels, phosphor screens, tissues, slides, arrays and much more.

Application Flexibility

The flexibility of the Sapphire FL guarantees researchers the freedom to confidently choose the best dyes and chemistry for any experiment. Custom optical modules can excite any dye at its peak, resulting in the highest possible signal for any fluorophore.

In addition to fluorescence, the Sapphire FL also excels at imaging phosphor screens and chemiluminescence using the optional Chemiluminescence Module.

Sensitive Fluorescent Detection

No other system on the market matches the Sapphire FL’s coverage across the fluorescent spectrum. Extend your reach into the UV spectrum with our 375 custom optical module. High sensitivity allows femtogram detection of proteins labeled with common fluorescent dyes.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated to AzureSpectra dyes, separated by SDS-PAGE, and transferred to membranes.
Bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated to AzureSpectra dyes, separated by SDS-PAGE, and transferred to membranes. Western blots were imaged at 50 μm on the Sapphire FL. Loaded amounts of dye-conjugated-BSA are given.
Scanning with EDR demonstrates quantifiable linearity over the entire range of sample concentrations.
Dot blot scanned with (top image) and without (bottom image) EDR. Without EDR, the top four dots saturate and cannot be quantified. Scanning with EDR demonstrates quantifiable linearity over the entire range of sample concentrations.

Distinguish between Subtle Differences in Expression with Extended Dynamic Range (EDR)

Extended dynamic range, when selected, allows imaging of both bright and weak bands without experiencing saturation. This is ideal for samples that feature strong and weak expressing proteins.

EDR extends dynamic range to 24 bits of data.

5-micron Resolution

 The Sapphire FL Z-plane ranges from -1 mm below to +6 mm above the glass imaging surface, allowing crystal clear imaging of samples with depth. The adjustable focal plane enables scanning of thick samples. Screen slides before microscopic analysis by imaging multiple slides at a resolution of 5 microns. 

Optimize the focal plane for your sample. Easily switch between sample types with confidence that each image will be sharply in focus. Create Z-stacks and GIFs to visualize multiple focal planes at once.

Mouse lung tissue slide imaged on the Sapphire FL with 638 nm laser modules at 5 μm.
Mouse lung tissue slide probed for vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin (AzureSpectra 550 nm secondary antibodies) and smooth muscle actin (SMA) (AzureSpectra 650 nm secondary antibodies). Imaged on the Sapphire FL using the 532 and 638 standard optical modules (red and green, respectively) at 5 um.
A 50-micron scan of a flower was taken using an Azure Sapphire FL from 0 to 6 mm with 1 mm adjustments.
A. 50-micron scan of a flower was taken from 0 to 6 mm with 1 mm adjustments.
50-micron scan of the same flower was merged in the Sapphire FL Capture Software to view all areas of focus at once.
B. 50-micron scan of the same flower was merged in the Sapphire FL Capture Software to view all areas of focus at once.

Adjustable Focus

We understand some samples are on the glass (Western blots), while some samples are raised above the glass surface (96-well plates). Some samples also have multiple focal points within them, such as tissue slides and organs. Sapphire FL can image those too.

The Sapphire FL offers a 7mm software-controlled adjustable focal plane, so you can scan your sample at multiple depths to ensure you see all your data has to offer.

Chemiluminescent Imaging When You Need It

The Chemiluminescence Module adds to the power of the Sapphire FL by providing high-resolution, quantitative chemiluminescence and visible imaging.

chemiluminescent FLASH Western Blot HeLa serial each in duplicate antitubulin antiactin with marker imaged with Azure Biosystems chemiSOLO
Chemiluminescent FLASH Western Blot HeLa serial each in duplicate antitubulin antiactin with marker imaged with the Sapphire FL Chemiluminescent Module.

Applications

The new Sapphire FL provides you with the versatility to do more applications with one system.

Specifications

ParameterAzure Sapphire FL
Detection modesFluorescence, phosphor imaging, densitometry, and chemiluminescence*
DetectorsConfocal scanning detected with PMT and APD lasers
Pixel size5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 μm
Supported wavelength range375 – 900 nm
Excitation range375 – 850 nm
Emission range380 – 900 nm
Maximum field of view (FOV):25 cm x 25 cm
Z-plane focal range7 mm; minimum delta 0.01mm, from -1 mm below the glass to 6 mm above the glass
Standard optical modulesSolid-state laser diodes emitting at 488, 532, 638, 685, 784
Custom optical modules**Solid-state laser diodes emitting at 375, 450, 488, 532
Wide dynamic range24-bit
Clearance from platen to lid4 cm
Animal imagingYes, with 5 built-in anesthesia ports compatible with standard small animal anesthesia tubing
Unit dimensions (W x H x D)​63.0 cm x 39.9 cm x 59.3 cm / 24.8” x 15.7” x 23.3"
Weight​43.5 kg / 95.9 lbs
Power requirements100 – 240 VAC ± 10%, 50/60 Hz
Connection to computerFast LAN (Ethernet) cable
CertificationsCE, cTUVus, CB scheme

*Optional

**Custom lasers and filters are available upon request to provide exceptional research flexibility

Publications

Azure Imagers have been published in over 2,000 publications worldwide. Our high-resolution CCD cameras are the reason behind reproducible data and publication-ready images.

Resources

Document TypeDescription
BrochureAzure Sapphire FL Biomolecular Imager BrochureDOWNLOAD
BookletSapphire FL Biomolecular Imager Applications and PublicationsDOWNLOAD

Sapphire FL Pricing

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