Technology
NanoJ-Fluidics
GitHub:
- HenriquesLab/NanoJ-Fluidics
Publication: Almada et al. Nature Communications 2019
- 86
NanoJ-Fluidics is an automated, computer-controlled system for exchanging fluids at the microscope sample during imaging experiments. It allows researchers to perform complex multimodal microscopy protocols with high reproducibility and minimal manual intervention.
The system consists of an array of compact Lego syringe pumps that can be multiplexed to automatically dispense reagents onto the sample. The hardware is controlled by open-source ImageJ-based software, enabling precise timing of fluid delivery. Key capabilities of NanoJ-Fluidics include:
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Event-driven fixation and staining: The system can fix cells at a specific timepoint based on visual cues during live imaging, allowing researchers to capture dynamic processes. For example, it fixed cells undergoing mitotic rounding by dispensing fixative when cell circularity exceeded a threshold. It then automatically performed immunostaining.
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Live-to-fixed correlative microscopy: NanoJ-Fluidics enables in situ correlation of live and fixed cell imaging. It first captures dynamic events like cytoskeletal rearrangements using live super-resolution microscopy. When ready, it fixes the cells, stains them, and switches to fixed-sample super-resolution techniques like STORM. This links nano-scale architecture with functional imaging.
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Multiplexed super-resolution imaging: The system exchanges imaging buffers to sequentially perform multi-color STORM and DNA-PAINT. This simplifies difficult protocols and expands the color palette. For example, it achieved 5-color images by interleaving STORM of actin with two rounds of DNA-PAINT staining.
The key advantages of NanoJ-Fluidics are its simplicity, flexibility and integration with imaging. Researchers avoid manual wash steps at the bench. The Lego pumps enable customizable setups for different microscopes. Crucially, the ImageJ-based software allows protocols to be precisely timed and triggered based on analysis of microscopy images. For example, mitotic rounding automatically triggered fixation and immunostaining.
NanoJ-Fluidics makes complex microscopy protocols highly reproducible and accessible. By automating fluid exchange, it opens new possibilities for live-to-fixed correlative imaging and multiplexed super-resolution microscopy. The capacity to trigger events based on microscopy images also enables new biologically-driven experiments. Its simple, open-source nature means that many researchers should be able to incorporate NanoJ-Fluidics into their workflows to enhance multimodal imaging.
Publications featuring NanoJ-Fluidics
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The rise of data‐driven microscopy powered by machine learning Leonor Morgado, Estibaliz Gómez‐de‐Mariscal, Hannah S. Heil, Ricardo Henriques Review published in Journal of Microscopy, March 2024 Technologies: NanoJ and NanoJ-Fluidics Funded by: CZI, EMBO, ERC, FCT, H2021 and H2022 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13282 |
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Live-cell imaging in the deep learning era Joanna W Pylvänäinen, Estibaliz Gómez-de-Mariscal, Ricardo Henriques, Guillaume Jacquemet Review published in Current Opinion in Cell Biology, January 2023 Technologies: BioImage Model Zoo, DeepBacs, Fast4DReg, NanoJ, NanoJ-eSRRF, NanoJ-Fluidics and ZeroCostDL4Mic Funded by: CZI, EMBO, ERC and H2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102271 |
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The LEGO® brick road to open science and biotechnology Etienne Boulter, Julien Colombelli, Ricardo Henriques, Chloé C. Féral Review published in Trends in Biotechnology, March 2022 Technologies: NanoJ and NanoJ-Fluidics Funded by: EMBO, ERC and Wellcome Trust DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.02.003 |
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The field guide to 3D printing in microscopy Mario Del Rosario, Hannah S Heil, Afonso Mendes, Vittorio Saggiomo, Ricardo Henriques Review published in Adv. Biol., January 2021 Technologies: CARE, NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics and NanoJ-SRRF Funded by: EMBO, ERC and Wellcome Trust DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202100994 |
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The cell biologist's guide to super-resolution microscopy Guillaume Jacquemet, Alexandre F. Carisey, Hellyeh Hamidi, Ricardo Henriques, Christophe Leterrier Review published in Journal of Cell Science, June 2020 Technologies: NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics, NanoJ-SRRF and ZeroCostDL4Mic Funded by: BBSRC and Wellcome Trust News: ScienMag and EurekAlert! DOI: 10.1242/jcs.240713 |
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Between life and death - strategies to reduce phototoxicity in super-resolution microscopy Kalina L Tosheva, Yue Yuan, Pedro Matos Pereira, Siân Culley, Ricardo Henriques Review published in Journal of Physics D - Applied Physics, January 2020 Technologies: CARE, NanoJ and NanoJ-Fluidics Funded by: BBSRC and Wellcome Trust DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/ab6b95 |
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An Introduction to Live-Cell Super-Resolution Imaging Siân Culley, Pedro Matos Pereira, Romain F Laine, Ricardo Henriques Book chapter published in Imaging from Cells to Animals In Vivo, January 2020 Technologies: CARE, NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics, NanoJ-SQUIRREL and QuickPALM DOI: 10.1201/9781315174662-4 |
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Super‐beacons - Open‐source probes with spontaneous tuneable blinking compatible with live‐cell super‐resolution microscopy Pedro M Pereira, Nils Gustafsson, Mark Marsh, Musa M Mhlanga, Ricardo Henriques Paper published in Traffic, January 2020 Technologies: NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics, NanoJ-SQUIRREL, NanoJ-SRRF and Super-Beacons Funded by: BBSRC and Wellcome Trust DOI: 10.1111/tra.12728 |
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Artificial intelligence for microscopy - what you should know Lucas von Chamier, Romain F. Laine, Ricardo Henriques Review published in Biochemical Society Transactions, July 2019 Technologies: CARE, NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics, NanoJ-SQUIRREL and NanoJ-SRRF Funded by: BBSRC and Wellcome Trust News: Azooptics.com DOI: 10.1042/bst20180391 |
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Automating multimodal microscopy with NanoJ-Fluidics Pedro Almada, Pedro M. Pereira, Siân Culley, Ghislaine Caillol, Fanny Boroni-Rueda, Christina L. Dix, Guillaume Charras, Buzz Baum, Romain F. Laine, Christophe Leterrier, Ricardo Henriques Paper published in Nature Communications, March 2019 Technologies: NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics, NanoJ-SQUIRREL, NanoJ-SRRF and NanoJ-VirusMapper Funded by: BBSRC and Wellcome Trust News: Technology Times, MSN, DNYUZ and Express Informer DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09231-9 |
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NanoJ - a high-performance open-source super-resolution microscopy toolbox Romain F Laine, Kalina L Tosheva, Nils Gustafsson, Robert D M Gray, Pedro Almada, David Albrecht, Gabriel T Risa, Fredrik Hurtig, Ann-Christin Lindås, Buzz Baum, Jason Mercer, Christophe Leterrier, Pedro M Pereira, Siân Culley, Ricardo Henriques Paper published in Journal of Physics D - Applied Physics, January 2019 Technologies: CARE, NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics, NanoJ-SQUIRREL, NanoJ-SRRF, NanoJ-VirusMapper and QuickPALM Funded by: BBSRC and Wellcome Trust DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/ab0261 |
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Fix your membrane receptor imaging - actin cytoskeleton and CD4 membrane organization disruption by chemical fixation Pedro M Pereira, David Albrecht, Siân Culley, Caron Jacobs, Mark Marsh, Jason Mercer, Ricardo Henriques Published in Frontiers in immunology, January 2019 Technologies: NanoJ, NanoJ-Fluidics and NanoJ-SQUIRREL Funded by: BBSRC and Wellcome Trust DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00675 |
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Funding contributing to NanoJ-Fluidics
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Sub-cellular Metabolic Compartmentalization During Oocyte Development Zita Carvalho dos Santos, Ricardo Henriques, Jorge Carvalho Funded by: CZI - Measuring Metabolism Across Scales Duration: January 2024 - December 2026 |
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How does membrane topology influence T-cell activation and HIV infection? Simao Coelho Funded by: FCT - Exploratory Research Projects Duration: March 2023 - September 2024 |
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Decoding T cell receptor signalling and membrane topology Simao Coelho Funded by: FCT - Concurso Estímulo ao Emprego Científico Duration: July 2022 - June 2028 Publications: 1 |
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Real-Time high-content Super-Resolution Imaging of ES Cell States Eran Meshorer, Ricardo Henriques, Anna Kreshuk, Sandrine Lévêque-Fort, Nicolas Bourg, Genevieve Almouzni Alias: RT-SuperES Funded by: H2022 - EIC Pathfinder Open Duration: April 2022 - March 2027 Publications: 10 |
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VP-CLEM-KIT - a pipeline for democratising volumetric visual proteomics Lucy Collinson, Ricardo Henriques, Paul French Funded by: CZI - Visual Proteomics Imaging Duration: December 2021 - June 2024 Publications: 13 |
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Enabling Live-Cell 4D Super-Resolution Microscopy Guided by Artificial Intelligence Ricardo Henriques Alias: SelfDriving4DSR Funded by: ERC - Consolidator Duration: September 2021 - September 2026 Publications: 28 |
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Mapping the early stages of HIV-1 infection by live-cell 4D Super-Resolution Microscopy Hannah Heil Funded by: EMBO - Postdoctoral Fellowships Duration: September 2021 - August 2023 Publications: 5 |
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Optial Biology PhD programme Michael Hausser, Ricardo Henriques, Antonella Riccio Funded by: Wellcome Trust - 4-year PhD Programme in Science Duration: August 2021 - August 2025 |
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Mapping HIV-1 infection by 4D Super-Resolution Microscopy Hannah Heil Funded by: FCT - CEEC Individual Duration: July 2021 - June 2027 Publications: 2 |
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Unveiling live-cell viral replication at the nanoscale Ricardo Henriques Funded by: EMBO - Installation Grant Duration: January 2021 - January 2026 Publications: 21 |
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4D Super-Resolution Proteomics Ricardo Henriques Funded by: UCL - Capital Equipment Fund Duration: June 2019 - May 2020 |