Beacon
Live Single Cell. Deepest Functional Insights.
An Unmatched Live Single Cell Functional Solution
Experience the full potential of live single cell functional analysis with Beacon Discovery™. Powered by optofluidic technology, it enables researchers to explore multimodal and temporal cellular responses in real time, seamlessly linking functional data to sequencing from the same single cell for deeper scientific breakthroughs. This compact, affordable platform delivers unparalleled insights into immune profiling, cell therapy, and antibody discovery.
- Accessible – Cost-effective and easy to use, Beacon Discovery brings advanced single cells functional insights to more research labs. Lower running costs and an intuitive interface reduce adoption barriers.
- Compact – This high-performance benchtop system delivers live single cells characterization and screening without the footprint of larger instruments, maximizing space efficiency without compromising capabilities.
- Flexible – Adaptable to evolving research needs, it supports immune cell profiling, antibody discovery, and custom functional assays. Perform multiple sequential assays on the same live cells for deeper biological insights.
- Proven – Built on Bruker’s widely published optofluidic technology, the system ensures exquisite control over single-cell experiments, enabling dynamic multi-parameter data collection and integration with downstream sequencing (TCR-seq, BCR-seq, mRNA-seq).
Applications
Understand the Life of Single Cells
with the Beacon Discovery
The Beacon Discovery is a flexible platform and a versatile solution for researchers in academia, translational research centers, and industry exploring high-precision functional cellular analysis. It enables T cell profiling for immunotherapy, antibody discovery, antibody profiling, vaccine development, and immune repertoire analysis by linking cellular function with molecular signatures through seamless downstream sequencing (TCR-seq or BCR-seq) integration.
T Cell Profiling
Interrogate T cell function to discover effective TCR/CAR sequences , validate the performance of T cells , translate cellular functionality to clinical biomarkers , and recover cells of interest for multi-omic insights.
Assays available: Cytokine analysis, Surface marker staining, Cytotoxicity, Phenotyping
Researcher Spotlight
Easy-to-Use Interface
Designing complex single-cell functional analysis experiments has never been easier. The Beacon Discovery includes a new easy-to-use wizard-based interface (included in the Cell Analysis Software (CAS) Suite) for designing multistep experimental workflows. Set up and execute sophisticated pre-defined and customized workflows in just a few clicks.
Easy-to-Use Interface
The Cell Analysis Software Suite enables real-time data exploration with automated and manual image analysis. Researchers can make informed decisions based on biomolecule secretion, target killing, and cell-cell interactions over time. Machine learning streamlines cell segregation, selection, and counting. UMAPs simplify multi-dimensional functional analysis.
Accessible System Based on Proven Optofluidic Technology – Now Available for Ordering
Technology
Unique Features of the Beacon Technology
At the core of the Beacon technology is the OptoSelect® chip, which combines nanofluidics and Opto-Electro Positioning (OPE) technology, referred to as optofluidics. Optofluidics leverages light and millions of light-actuated pixels to manipulate cells and beads with precision, empowering precise isolation, and characterization of single cells at scale. Single cells with phenotypes of interest can then be recovered for further downstream analyses, including sequencing.
Opto-Electrical Positioning (OEP) Technology
Provides Exquisite Control of Cells and Beads
- Uses light to move cells around and into the NanoPens
- Allows for thousands of parallel single cell experiments at once
NanoPen Horizontal Design
Allows Continuous Media Perfusion
- Provides minimal disruption of the contents in the NanoPens
- Allows for exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste in and out of the NanoPens in a matter of seconds
- Keeps cells alive and healthy for days to weeks
Flexible to Run Chips with Flexible Chip Formats
Tailor experiments to specific research needs with flexible chip formats. The Beacon Discovery system supports multiple chip configurations, seamlessly adapting to diverse workflows and applications.
OptoSelect 1750b Chip
This chip has ~1,750 1.7 nL NanoPens that are ideal for longer term culture experiments including adherent cell cloning.
OptoSelect 3500 Chip
This chip has ~3,500 chambers with 0.75 nL NanoPens that enable some cell division and higher clone throughput.
OptoSelect 11k Chip
This chip has ~11,000 chambers with 0.32 nL NanoPens that are designed for scaling up your throughput of single cell screening.
OptoSelect 20k Chip
This chip has ~20,000 chambers with 0.32 nL NanoPens that are designed for the highest throughput of single cell screening.
Screen the Right Cells Automatically and Precisely
4 Simple Steps to Find the Best Cells
The Beacon Discovery platform automates single cell profiling using optofluidic technology, Optofluidics is able to move single cells or beads in large numbers so they can be isolated, cultured, assayed, and exported.
1. Sort
Software detects individual cells and precisely positions them into NanoPen® chambers using patterned light.
2. Culture
Cells grow in a continuously perfused environment, while real-time imaging enables dynamic data collection.
3. Assay
Functionally profile cells through multi-step and multi-assay experiments.
4. Export
Recover high-value cells for sequencing or live-cell applications.
Beacon Discovery
Unleash the Full Potential of
Your Single Cell Research
Complete the form to connect with us and discover how the Beacon Discovery system can enhance your research adventure.
Our expert team will be able to answer your questions, show you how the Beacon Discovery system works, and share the most relevant datasheets & case studies for your research.