Entry-level
m-Trap® – Optical Tweezers
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The m-Trap is the first entry-level optical tweezers instrument specifically developed for high resolution single-molecule research.
Ultra-high force resolution and stability, with incredible throughput, ease of use, and modularity ‒ all at an unprecedented price level.
How does it work?
In 2018 Arthur Ashkin won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery that the momentum of light can be used as an incredibly sensitive set of “tweezers”.
By shooting a laser through a microscope, he created a highly focused beam of light strong enough to trap and hold in place objects such as plastic beads. These beads can be coated to stick to a variety of biomolecules, such as proteins, cytoskeleton filaments, DNA, or RNA. Furthermore, the tiniest forces applied to these molecules can be measured as well, giving the world access to a tool not only capable of manipulating biomolecules but also capable of detecting what’s happening to them.
How can it be applied to my research?
Whether you are aiming to make novel discoveries in the life sciences or develop successful drug candidates, we work on a personal level to find the right solution for you. Browse our extended list of applications to discover how these technologies can benefit your research.
Don’t see your specific field represented? Drop us an e-mail to see what we can do!
Stable and precise sample manipulation
Advanced manipulation features that allow you to get the most out of your sample. Fully supported integration and correlation with custom optical layout allowing for 3rd party system integration.
Dual (2)
Optical Traps
For your typical assay in solution
m-Trap Flex option
The m-Trap Flex option provides access to the optical path, allowing for the integration of custom hardware. Imaging and spectroscopy techniques can be added to the m-Trap offerring full flexibility to combine locally developed optical hardware with the m-Trap’s ultra-high force resolution and stability
High throughput experiment workflow
Loading your sample and analysing your data in less than 30 minutes.
Load your sample into the flow
With fast and simple pipetting
For solution assays, load your samples and conditions into the syringes of the 5-channel u-Flux™ Laminar Flow Microfluidics system. Pipetting each reagent takes seconds thanks to the twist-and-lock syringe adaptor, with which you can quickly and easily refill individual syringes.
Assemble your assay without physical barriers
With our new nano stage option and using laminar flow microfluidics
For solution assays, you can seamlessly move your optical traps to gather reagents, move them between the 5 microfluidics lanes, and assemble your constructs.
Perform and automate your experiments
With our Bluelake software suite
Bluelake™ is an intuitive user-friendly software suite containing programs that simplify, automate, and enhance single-molecule experiments and real-time data gathering with a mouse click. For example, use Bluelake to:
- Assemble your samples and run your experiment in 80 seconds.
- Extract 18 sets of data in only 30 minutes.
Organise and analyze your data
With a dedicated software suite
Generate a structured experiment overview with a fast and smooth navigation through multiple days of measurements.
View, compare, and export your data stream during or after the experiment. The dedicated software automatically stores all your metadata so you never lose valuable information and always have the option to reproduce your experiments.
Analyzing and repeating experiments has never been easier, as our analysis software comes with tutorials and sample notebooks that can serve as a scaffold for your own analyses.
Easy and intuitive software package
Check how you can completely automate your experiments using our user-centered software workflow.
Intuitive controls
Quick and easy sample interfacing
The software gives you total control over your experiments. Whether you are visually navigating through the laminar flow cell on the screen or selecting the area you wish to scan through the bright-field camera, our approach puts you in the front seat.
Fully correlated data
Everything in a single timeline
Bluelake was designed to control all aspects of your system from a single interface. The trap positions and force data truly correlates the experiments.
Ready-made reagents, kits, and tailored sample preparation services
Use our newly-established biochemistry platform and internal expertise for the purification, labeling, and preparation of your reagents for optical trapping experiments. With our multidisciplinary expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, and dynamic single-molecule analysis, we’ve created the most extensive selection of ready-made reagents, kits, and tailored services to prepare your samples.