Personal Chemiluminescent Imager
The chemiSOLO™ from Azure Biosystems is a compact imaging system designed for chemiluminescent Western blot imaging, quantitative densitometry, visible protein gel imaging, and colourimetric blot imaging. The system enables sensitive detection of low-abundance proteins, with femtogram-level sensitivity, while providing rapid acquisition of chemiluminescent and visible protein marker images.
The instrument incorporates a 6-megapixel, back-illuminated, Peltier-cooled CMOS camera, providing high sensitivity and enhanced image quality for chemiluminescent applications. Its imaging architecture supports high-bit-depth image acquisition while minimizing pixel saturation and maximizing the available linear dynamic range. Quantitative performance can be further enhanced using the Extended Dynamic Range (EDR) function, which extends the measurable signal range while maintaining linearity for quantitative analysis and densitometry.
The chemiSOLO supports the acquisition of visible images, allowing multicolour protein markers to be overlaid with chemiluminescent blot images. This facilitates gel annotation, molecular-weight reference, and identification of individual protein bands. In addition to Western blot applications, the system can image colourimetric blots and stained protein gels, including those stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue and silver stains.
With a weight of approximately 9.1 kg (20 lb), the chemiSOLO has a compact and portable design suitable for laboratories where bench space and instrument mobility are important considerations. The system does not require dedicated software installation. Instead, the instrument incorporates browser-based control software that can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet, or computer via its dedicated Wi-Fi connection. Mobile devices can be connected by scanning the instrument-specific QR code, while computers can access the software through a standard web browser using the instrument's IP address.