Manchester startup unveils world first in imaging technology

The commercial launch of a revolutionary new technology – (SMAL) Super Resolution Microsphere Amplified Lens – is the latest world leading innovation from Manchester’s scientific community. Led by Professor Lin Li, who demonstrated the basic principal of the technique in 2011, the LIG Nanowise team has successfully translated the concept to a market-ready product from their base at Manchester Science Park.

“It’s great to see another yet another home-grown company flourish in the MSP community and we’re delighted to help them launch their latest product”.
Rowena Burns, Chairman of Manchester Science Partnerships & Oxford Road Corridor Board Member

This level of detailed imaging is vital for researchers working at the forefront of drug discovery, oncology, and virology, with advanced materials such as graphene and the latest microchip technologies. This has traditionally required expensive equipment only found in Universities, large corporations or specialist centres. High demand for these facilities means turnaround for sample imaging can be slow – adding days or weeks to tight timescales – as well as being unreliable and costly. By removing this accessibility barrier, NANOPSIS promises to be a game changer for R&D laboratories, universities and microelectronics quality control around the world.
The cutting-edge, patented, SMAL technology modifies standard white light microscopes to dramatically increase their resolution. This allows users to view the nanoscopic world as never before seen with standard optical microscopes.

Combining a built-in SMAL powered lens, with best-in-class software and hardware specifications; the new NANOPSIS branded imaging system generates full colour, large area scans of materials and live samples – resolving details down to 70 billionths of a metre (70 nanometres) in size, surpassing the theoretical limit of standard optical microscopy (200 nanometres).

Crucially for biological and medical applications, the optical lens does not have to be in contact with the sample removes the risk of potential damage. Additional financial benefits of the revolutionary NANOPSIS system include improved safety, greater power efficiency and a significantly cheaper investment compared to other super-resolution microscopes currently available on the market.