There are two models of the iBright™ 1500 Series available: the iBright™ CL1500 and the iBright™ FL1500. The iBright™ FL1500 is our flagship instrument, capable of imaging fluorescent, chemiluminescent and colorimetric western blots, in addition to fluorescent stained nucleic acid gels, fluorescent stained protein gels, colorimetric stained protein gels and colorimetric membrane stains (Figure 1). The iBright™ CL1500 model has the same imaging capabilities as the iBright™ FL1500, with the exception that it does not have the ability to capture and analyse fluorescent western blot images.
Figure 1 Examples of imaging applications
iBright 1500 series imagers offer up to five imaging modes to support your multiple applications. Efficiently and easily capture data from colorimetric protein gels, nucleic acid gels, chemiluminescent western blots, fluorescent western blots and more.
The iBright™ 1500 Series Imaging Systems contain a 9.1 megapixel cooled CCD camera that is highly sensitive and has a dynamic range, designed to provide robust, crystal-clear, publication-quality images (Figure 2). It features Smart Exposure™ acquisition technology, which provides rapid determination of optimal exposure times. This ultimately minimises the need to repeat exposures to get the desired signal, making manual exposure times something of the past (Figure 2).
Figure 2 Powerful 9.1 megapixel cooled CCD camera with Smart Exposure™ Technology
Capture crisp, clear, publication-quality images with a 9.1 megapixel cooled CCD camera.
Smart Exposure™ technology rapidly determines optimal exposure time, minimizing the potential for over- or underexposed images and the need to repeat exposures to get the desired signal.
Both models have a simple interface with functions displayed on a 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, making the imaging experience intuitive and easy for the end user (Figure 3). Advanced features, such as automatic sample rotation, automatic zoom and automatic focus, help to streamline the process that would otherwise have been done manually.
Figure 3 iBright models contain a 12.1 inch LCD touchscreen interface
The capacitive 12.1 inch LCD touchscreen on Invitrogen™ iBright™ 1500 series imaging systems responds similarly to your other high-quality touchscreen devices.
These models have a green LED-based transilluminator which effectively excites popular DNA dyes such as ethidium bromide and Invitrogen SYBR green dyes for DNA gel imaging, without the harmful rays of UV transilluminator bulbs (Figure 4). UV Transilluminator bulbs can contain mercury, which is a hazardous substance, and therefore requires special care for handling and disposal. The LED bulbs have a longer lifetime than UV, which can be cost saving over the lifetime of the instrument.
Figure 4 Green LED-based transilluminator
iBright imaging systems use a transilluminator based on green LEDs, which effectively excite popular DNA dyes such as ethidium bromide and Invitrogen™ SYBR™ Green dyes.
While most researchers use chemiluminescent substrates for detection, many are switching to fluorescence detection. This enables researchers to take advantage of a range of fluorescent dyes and antibodies for western blot detection and multiplex up to four proteins in a single blot (Figure 5). Fluorescence gives a longer signal duration compared to chemiluminescence and provides higher reproducibility between blots, which can be hard to achieve with chemiluminescent blots
Figure 5 Multiplexed western blots using fluorescent dyes
Multiplexing helps make research more efficient and productive. With the five fluorescent channels of the iBright FL1500 Imaging System, researchers can multiplex with up to four fluorophores, combining fluorophores in both the visible (RGB) fluorescent range and near-infrared (near-IR) range
The iBright™ 1500 Series Imaging Systems are capable of high throughput imaging, with four mini blots or two midi blots captured in a single image. More specifically, the FL1500 is capable of high degree multiplexing, as one can study multiple proteins using fluorescent dyes in one blot, in combination with the ability to view more than one blot at a time.
The iBright™ 1500 Series Imaging Systems offer flexible connectivity for your captured images. Images can be exported via ethernet connection, Wi-Fi or USB or can be uploaded to a cloud-based platform. They can be analysed directly on the iBright™ instrument or with the standalone iBright™ Analysis Software, which is available for both desktop and cloud-based platforms (Figure 6). The iBright™ Analysis Software is designed to complete the intuitive imaging workflow and perform in-depth image adjustment and data analysis.
Figure 6 iBright Analysis Software
iBright Analysis Software is available in both desktop and Connect (cloud-based) versions. iBright Analysis Software complements the on-board analysis software, and extends the functionality to include relative and absolute quantitation and normalization using housekeeping proteins as well as total lane protein. It also allows users to label their images easily using annotation features.
The iBright™ 1500 Series Imaging Systems have been endorsed by many of our customers, who have found them to be simple and intuitive to use. They have been surprised by how quickly they can capture an image of a blot or gel without any difficulty. Gulliaume Pidoux, a researcher in France who was one of the first in EMEA to use an iBright™ Imaging System for his cardiology research, described it as having an “easy-to-use interface, allowing the acquisition of excellent resolution pictures”.
Field Application Specialist
BioSciences limited