Beacon®
Optofluidic System
Pioneering Functional Single Cell Analysis
Powering Breakthroughs With Multimodal, Functional Live Single Cell Analysis
The Beacon® optofluidic system revolutionizes single cell research by integrating advanced optics, fluidics, and imaging to deliver large-scale, high-parameter, real-time functional characterization of live single cells. Unlock unprecedented insights in therapeutic antibody discovery, AI-driven antibody engineering, vaccine development, cell line development, and cell therapy innovation—all with unparalleled automation and speed.
- Exquisite Control – Build your own single cell experiments with unparalleled precision
- Highest Parameters on Chip – Conduct real-time imaging for serial multi-modal analysis on the same live cells
- Infinite Possibilities off Chip – Identify and recover high-value cells to link on-chip phenotypic data with downstream sequencing
- Automated Scalability – Analyze 500 to 60,000 single cells enabling analysis of precious clinical samples or performing high throughput screening
The Premier Functional Single Cell Analysis Platform
Powered by OptoSelect® Chip technology, live-cell imaging, and full automation, the Beacon system redefines single cell analysis. The revolutionary OptoSelect chip replaces traditional well plates or microdroplets—each chip contains thousands of NanoPen® chambers, where cells are selectively placed, cultured, and characterized using proprietary Beacon Platform assays.
The system enables real-time brightfield and fluorescence live cell imaging, capturing dynamic cellular responses with minimal hands-on intervention. It offers precise control for recovering single cells with desired functions, facilitating downstream sequencing to link functional characterization with transcriptomics or genomics from the same individual cells. With a fully automated workflow, researchers can iterate, analyze, and accelerate discoveries effortlessly.
Key Product Features
- Large-scale high-throughput screening (up to 4 chips per run)
- Vast portfolio of functional assays for diverse applications
- Brightfield and fluorescence live cell imaging for dynamic analysis
- Live cell recovery for downstream processing
- Rapid, automated workflow for increased efficiency
- Integrated data analysis and visualization tools
Applications
Understand the Life of Single Cells
with the Beacon Platform
Driving Breakthroughs in Life Sciences and BioPharma Industry
The Beacon system accelerates large scale discoveries in antibody development, vaccine development, immune monitoring, and cell therapy. It is an essential tool for biopharma therapeutic antibody discovery groups, autoantibody academic research, and top-tier CROs or CDMOs advancing next-generation drug discovery.
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
Transform AI-Driven Antibody Discovery
AI-powered antibody engineering requires vast, high-dimensional datasets. The Beacon platform enables large-scale functional assays, providing the comprehensive data necessary to train AI models and optimize therapeutic antibody leads efficiently.
Researcher Spotlight
Technology
Unique Features of the Beacon Technology
At the core of the Beacon technology is the OptoSelect® chip, which combines nanofluidics and Opto-Electrical Positioning (OEP) 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
Adaptable High-Throughput Chips
Tailor experiments to specific research needs with flexible chip formats. The Beacon system supports multiple chip configurations, running up to 4 chips simultaneously, 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 cell line development and 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 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.
Experience Beacon in Action
Discover how the Beacon platform delivers precise control over single cell experiments in this technology video. See how it enables customized cell selection, real-time high-parameter characterization with multiplexed bead-based assay, and advanced cell-cell interaction assay. Watch live cell retrieval in action and explore how functional single cell analysis integrate with downstream sequencing data (BCR-seq) to empower better and faster antibody lead optimization.
Powerful Software for Functional Single-Cell Analysis
The Beacon platform includes the Cell Analysis Software (CAS) Suite, a robust toolset that allows researchers to design, execute, and analyze single cell experiments in real time. CAS enables fully customized and automated workflows, delivering high-dimensional insights into single cell heterogeneity, cell function, phenotype, and behavior.
Beacon Optofluidics
Unleash the Full Potential of
Your Single Cell Research
Complete the form to connect with us and discover how the Beacon technology can enhance your Antibody Discovery, Cell Line Development, or T Cell Profiling work.
Our expert team will be able to answer your questions, show you how the Beacon system works, and share the most relevant datasheets & case studies for your research.